Jazz Band Director

Saxophonist and composer Perry Conticchio is the Music Director for the Montgomery Blue Notes – a jazz band sponsored by the Montgomery Village Foundation. Perry has built his four decade musical career in the DC area using the singular jazz sounds of the 1960s as a point of departure.

His formal studies were at Miami University of Ohio and Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied with Joe Viola, John LaPorta and Charley Mariano. Moving to the Washington, DC area in 1976, Perry became an established figure in the "new" music scene. During this time he had the opportunity to perform with and learn from Don Cherry, Anthony Braxton, Sam Rivers and many others. Perry has founded several jazz groups and performed at many Washington area cultural events and nightclubs including The DC Jazz Festival, The Smithsonian Folk-Life Festival, Johns-Hopkins Spring Fest, Blues Alley, One Step Down, Twin's Jazz, The 9:30 Club and too many others to mention.

He still occasionally performs with other noted DC musicians and provides advanced saxophone lessons for numerous jazz students.

Perry was drawn to the Montgomery Blue Notes job as a new challenge – one where he can give back to the community and foster the growth of other aspiring musicians.