Damian Montano enjoys an active career as both bassoonist and composer. He is a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and has performed with numerous other southern California orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Opera and the Pacific Symphony. As a motion picture and television recording artist, he has played bassoon and contrabassoon on scores by composers such as John Williams, Danny Elfman, Michael Giacchino, and Hans Zimmer. Some of his most notable projects include Star Wars Episodes 7, 8 & 9, The Mandalorian, Encanto, Moana 1 & 2, Turning Red, Avatar: Way of the Water, Spider-Man: No Way Home, Toys 4, Raya and the Last Dragon, Alice in Wonderland, Men in Black: International, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, Family Guy, American Dad,  and Star Trek: Discovery, Lower Decks, Picard, & Strange New Worlds.

As a composer, he has been funded by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and has received commissions from ensembles across the country, including the Houston Symphony, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Dallas Winds, and the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana Wind Symphony. His works have additionally been performed by orchestras such as the National Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, Santa Monica Symphony, Culver City Symphony, Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra, Northwest Philharmonia, and the International Double Reed Society Festival Orchestra.

While studying at the University of Southern California, Damian was featured as soloist with both USC’s Wind Symphony and the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra, subsequent to winning each ensemble’s concerto competition with a work that he composed. Damian appeared as a headlining artist at the 2012 International Double Reed Society Conference, where he played the dual role of soloist and composer in the world premiere of his bassoon concerto “Three Night Pieces.” He has also been featured as soloist with the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra in a performance of his Concerto for Piccolo and Contrabassoon. 

Damian graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree from Rice University, and received his Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California. His primary teachers include Benjamin Kamins and Rose Corrigan.