Welcome to the online home of composer Justin Sherburn. Justin loves to collaborate on creative projects.
You can email him at contact@montopolismusic.com. He has several groups that perform regularly:
Montopolis - a modern chamber music group, accompanies silent films and other multimedia events
Highway Lights - an ambient classical duo featuring cellist Sara Nelson
The Ascots - a jazz piano trio
See what's new below and check here for upcoming performances.
Planetarium Mobilis
presents
Highway Lights
Jun 04, 2026, 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Factory on 5th, 3409 E 5th St., Austin, TX 78702
WATCH THE PROMOTIONAL VIDEO HERE
Instagram: @highwaylights1
Planetarium Mobilis is a new immersive art experience that features local ambient musicians and space themed imagery projected on a planetarium dome. The audience will lounge on yoga mats and pillows to experience this one hour performance and video installation. At the premier of this series on June 4, ambient classical duo Highway Lights will accompany NASA imagery reimagined by filmmaker Anlo Sepulveda. Herbal tea will be served after the performance to ease re-entry.
Highway Lights is cellist Sara Nelson (Tosca String Quartet, Austin Symphony) and pianist composer Justin Sherburn (Okkervil River, Montopolis). Their performances have been called "stunning and transcendent" by the Austin Chronicle. Influenced by Brian Eno, Arvo Pärt and Stars of the Lid, their music features sweeping cello solos and immersive drone sculptures, a perfect accompaniment for a journey through the galaxy.
Astral projection meets sacred minimalism in this meditation on the universe.
The 2025 Montopolis touring ensemble includes Justin Sherburn on synthesizers and guitar and Jed Moeller performing on homemade instruments. We're leaving the theremin at home this year because we already have too much stuff in the van.
The Montopolis live score to L'Inferno (1911) tours this August on the west coast and this October on the east coast. New tour dates coming soon.
Listen to the new EP here.
L’Inferno (1911) is the first feature length horror film ever released. An adaptation of Dante’s classic journey through hell, this masterpiece of silent film employs elaborate costumes, special effects, and set design to create an awe-inspiring and ethereal world. The original Montopolis score brings new life to this horror classic with a mix of psych rock, dark wave and terrifying sound effects performed live.
"a night of beautiful chamber music, but with electric guitar and the twang of pedal steel giving a Texas kick to the keys and strings." -Texas Monthly
"a multimedia love letter to the Texas coast, with voices and images from the Gulf set to an original score" - NPR, Texas Standard
"The group can create forceful sounding songs that have a bit of rock ‘n roll snarl, but it is also capable of mournful classical sounding pieces ... the group’s range of expression is striking."
-The Houston Chronicle
" A Prairie Home Companion with a Texas twist, this program from Indie classical group Montopolis tells the stories and myths of our rugged state." - Houstonia
Dr. Ben Hodges joins the Living Coast
University of Texas professor, Dr. Ben Hodges, will be performing with Montopolis in 2022. We are thrilled to have this esteemed scientist travel with the group and share his insights with our audiences.
Highway Lights is pleased that "All Things Considered" took an interest in our recent album, "Texas Workforce Commission Hold Music". We are even more pleased that the TWC chose our music as their official hold music! Listen to the NPR story HERE.
This project is generously funded by Mid-America Arts Alliance, The National Endowment for the Arts, and the state arts agencies of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.
This project has been generously funded by the City of Austin's Music and Entertainment Division Live Music Event Fund.