Hope Haley Montoni collection of chamber music with voice

Hope Haley Montoni (1931 - 2013) graduated from the Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education and subsequently received a Master’s degree in Music from Kent State University. Her career as a classical mezzo-soprano spanned from 1949 to 1988. She was a third prize winner in the Regional Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1960-61 (Washington, D.C.). Montoni was later a voice faculty member at Virginia Commonwealth University from 1973 to 1975. In addition to her life in music, Montoni was an activist and educator. A founding member of the Sojourner Truth Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW) on the campus of Kent State University in 1970, Montoni also produced the first Women Artist Festival for the Kent State Summer Series in 1973. The festival included exhibits of jewelry, crafts, and paintings by women artists, opera scenes with a feminist perspective, dances choreographed by women, and films about notable women in the arts. During her time at Kent State, Montoni lectured the honors classes on feminism and spoke to women’s clubs and community groups on the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) and feminism. After moving to Richmond, Virginia in 1973, Montoni joined Richmond NOW and in 1974 produced the August 26th Equality Day festival at A.P. Hill Park. As an associate of the Richmond Community Orchestra, Montoni researched and presented music by women and African American composers in Virginia and elsewhere in the United States. She was the recipient of both a "Woman of Achievement" award from Richmond NOW for her "unique blending of art and feminism" and the "Outstanding Woman" award by the YWCA in 1985.