Extraordinary music professor celebrated through song

Ellen McCusker

Though his own resume is impressive itself, Dreux Montegut, assistant professor of voice, said he is most proud of the accomplishments of his former students.

Along with moving on to graduate programs at universities including Manhattan School of Music and Northwestern University, a few of Montegut’s students have also  performed with distinguished companies such as Metropolitan Opera and New Orleans Opera.

On Tuesday, Nov. 4 at 7:30 p.m. in Roussel Hall, Loyola’s Montage Series hosted a free concert to celebrate Montegut’s two decades at Loyola. The concert included performances by several of Montegut’s former students such as Bryan Hymel ‘01, Casey Candebat ‘09, and Angela Mannino ‘03, who have gone on to perform in Broadway shows, as well as at The Metropolitan Opera House.

As for Montegut, besides accompanying long-time friend and professor of voice Amy Pfrimmer, Lillian Gerson Watsky Professor in Voice at Tulane University, on a few pieces, he got to “sit back and enjoy.”

He is proud to have worked with so many talented students who have gone on to lead successful lives as performers, as well as with his recent graduates who are just starting out and making names for themselves. He said he considers many of these students to be close friends.

“I have really enjoyed being able to be a part of student’s lives,” Montegut said.

He also mentioned his former student, Sawyer Nunez, who couldn’t attend the concert because he is currently performing in “Finding Neverland” on Broadway after a run in “Matilda” on Broadway.

As for what has kept him at Loyola for two decades, Montegut credits another group of friends — his colleagues. Some of these colleagues have become particularly close friends, such as Tyler Smith, extraordinary professor of voice, and Betsy Uschkrat, professor of voice, performed for the concert.

With both former students and current and former colleagues performing to celebrate Montegut’s accomplishments, this concert represents this beloved professor’s hard work over the past two decades.