Robert Danforth
Principal Horn
The Robert L. Mann and Family Chair
Robert Danforth became principal horn of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1990 after serving in the same post with the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra. Previously he held positions with the Toledo and Omaha symphony orchestras, as well as the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. Born in Detroit, Danforth earned a B.M. degree from the College-Conservatory of Music of the University of Cincinnati. His principal teachers have included Dale Clevenger, Michael Hatfield, Charles Weaver, Lowell Greer and Arnold Jacobs. He has been a fellow at the Tanglewood Music Center and a member of the Chicago Civic Orchestra.
He has appeared as soloist with the ISO on several occasions and is regularly heard in various chamber music settings. A section coach for the ISO’s Side by Side program and a member of the faculty at DePauw University, he was a performer and lecturer at the International Horn Symposium in 2003. Danforth and his wife are the parents of four children. He enjoys swimming, working in his raspberry patch and spending time with his family.
Richard Graef
Assistant Principal Horn
Richard Graef was born in Minneapolis and grew up in the Chicago area. The son of a flutist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Graef received his B.M. degree from Ithaca College and has studied with John Covert, Gail Williams and Dale Clevenger. Before joining the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1991, Graef played with the Honolulu, Memphis and Natal symphonies. As a youth, Graef played on the 1988 tour of the American-Soviet Youth Orchestra that performed in both countries and in 1985 soloed with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
Graef plays with various chamber music groups including Suzuki & Friends, the Ronen Chamber Ensemble and the Buselli-Wallerab Jazz Orchestra. He has served on the Orchestra Committee, including several terms as Chair, as well as committees for the Music Director search, touring and musician pensions, as well as the ISO’s education programs. The winner of the 2003 Patch Leadership Award, Graef is married to a flutist/educator, and they are the parents of two sons. Away from music he can be found sailing on Eagle Creek Reservoir.
Julie Beckel
Julie Beckel is a native of Indianapolis and the daughter of Principal Trombone James Beckel. Before attending the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under the instruction of Randy Gardner, Julie studied with ISO members Jerry Montgomery and Richard Graef. She was a member of the Honolulu Symphony prior to returning to Indianapolis in 2006. She also performed for three summers with the Verbier Festival Orchestra, touring throughout Europe, Asia and South America. At the festival she performed in a piano quintet with conductor and pianist James Levine. Her horn was made locally by Darin Sorley. (Profile by Geoffrey S. Lapin)
Jerry Montgomery
Horn
The Bakken Family Chair
Jerry Montgomery has been a member of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra since 1980. Born in Quincy, Illinois, he received a B.A. in History from St. Olaf College in Minnesota. He has studied horn with Don Hatch, Miles Johnson and Dale Clevenger. Before coming to the ISO, Montgomery played in the NORAD band in Colorado Springs for three years and performed in the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa and as an extra with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
In Indianapolis, Montgomery plays with Chamber Brass Choir and has performed with Suzuki & Friends and the Ronen Chamber Ensemble. He was a member of the faculty at Butler University for 16 years. With the ISO, he has appeared as soloist in several concertos, represented his colleagues through many years of service on the Orchestra Committee, often as the Chair, served as a section coach for the Side by Side program, was a member of the Strategic Long Range Plan and the Financial Task Force committees and was selected as the winner of the 1998 Patch Leadership Award. He is married to ISO violinist Dinah Montgomery, and they are the parents of one daughter. An avid golfer, he also plays on the Orchestra's softball team.
Jill Boaz
Horn
Jill Boaz, a native of Herrin, Illinois, grew up in the Chicago area. She received a B.M. degree from Indiana University where she studied with Phil Farkas and Michael Hatfield, and an M.M. from Northwestern University where she studied with Gail Williams, Richard Oldberg and Dale Clevenger. Prior to joining the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1990, Ms. Boaz played in the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa and the Orchestre de la RAI in Torino, Italy.
Ms. Boaz was on the faculty of the University of Indianapolis and has assisted in the ISO’s education programs. She was a Fellow of the Tanglewood Festival in Massachusetts and has spent parts of several recent summers as a member of the Grand Teton Music Festival Orchestra. Away from music, she enjoys oil painting, drawing and her dogs.
