Progressions Cello Instructor Rayden Vaughan Montes is a cellist, arranger, and educator based in Milwaukee. He holds a Teaching Assistantship in String Pedagogy at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where he earned his BA in Cello Performance and is currently pursuing his Master’s degree under the mentorship of Dr. Stefan Kartman. He has also studied with Scott Cook, Michael Way, and Adrien Zitoun. Originally from El Paso, Texas, Rayden began studying cello at age 10 and later attended Milwaukee High School of the Arts, graduating in 2018 and completing studies at The Cello Institute of Milwaukee.

Rayden performs regularly across Wisconsin with orchestras, chamber groups, and pit ensembles, and is active as both a soloist and session musician. He uses both acoustic and electric cellos to explore a wide range of genres through performance, recording, and original arrangements. His compositions have been featured in statewide conferences, theatrical productions, and short films.

In addition to his performance work, Rayden teaches through organizations including Maestro Makers, Civic Music Milwaukee, and the Latino Arts Strings Program. As a Cello Instructor with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, he is passionate about sharing the gift of music with the next generation of young artists.