Montoya’s music has been performed throughout the United States by ensembles ranging from university wind ensembles and youth orchestras to professional organizations including the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Toledo Symphony Orchestra, and United States Army Field Band. His work has been heard at Avery Fisher Hall, the Midwest International Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, the Texas Music Educators Association Convention, the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference, and the Texas Bandmasters Association Convention, among others. When in attendance, he can generally be identified by his sneakers and his man purse, or “murse,” if you prefer.

Although the closest he has come to being a man in uniform was marching with “The Pride of the Hill Country,” along with several Halloween costumes best left undocumented, Montoya served as arranger for the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band in 2012 and 2013. He was later commissioned by the U.S. Army Field Band to compose Texas Forever (Fanfare for Texas). His work in the marching arts has taken him throughout the country as a composer, arranger, designer, adjudicator, clinician, speaker, and guest conductor.

His compositions and arrangements have been performed by state and national champions and finalists, major collegiate marching bands, and drum corps including the Madison Scouts, Colts, Spirit of Atlanta, Guardians, and Revolution. His approach to the field is rooted in the belief that arranging should do more than reproduce the source material. Through reorchestration, development, juxtaposition, and dramatic reinterpretation, Montoya strives to create a new musical object; one designed specifically for the performers, the field, and the story being told. Driven by the Music.

Beyond composing and designing, Montoya has spent increasing time talking into cameras. As The Shoemmelier, he explores sneakers and the culture surrounding them, bringing the same mixture of analysis, curiosity, questionable humor, and excessive footwear to another corner of the internet. He also serves as a host and marching arts analyst for General Effect Media, covering the activity, its performers, its designers, its judges, and the wonderfully obsessive people who spend their fall weekends arguing about tenths of points.

When he is not writing music, designing shows, talking about marching band, reviewing sneakers, or tending to Mont Shoemore, his outlandish and possibly irresponsible sneaker collection, Montoya enjoys engaging in indigenous Austinite culture and reminding anyone who will listen that Austin and the Austin area are two very different things. He remains susceptible to being mistaken for some combination of Lin-Manuel Miranda, Tony Stark, and Jeff Goldblum.

His sidekicks in life are his better half, known to the internet simply as “The Girl”; their daughter, “The Heir”; and Leonard, the newest puggle to assume household duties once handled by the late, great Mahler. Montoya is also responsible for the term “portmonto,” a portmanteau of his name and a portmanteau describing his fondness for combining words that probably did not ask to be combined. He also used hashtags on Facebook long before it was cool, which admittedly did not make it cool.

Montoya’s music is published and distributed by C. Alan Publications, Murphy Music Press, Row-Loff Productions, Tapspace Publications, and Underwater Theme Productions.