Music common thread that brings us together

I had the great pleasure of singing in the annual North Valley Music School Faculty Concert. It was another reminder of how music changes lives and our community. This concert features the faculty and staff of Montana’s only nonprofit community music school here in Whitefish.

Our Faculty Concert highlighted the performance side of our teachers — musicians from all walks of life, who thrive on all different genres — provided a program from Thelonious Monk to Mozart, Sondheim to Elton John. Some performed solo, but most joined forces with colleagues, family and friends to show off their skills. The program was so rich and versatile and I was honored to be a part of the evening.

Not only does the Faculty Concert provide an opportunity to bring musicians together, it is a place where people of all ages and different tastes come together. Guests were treated to about 90 minutes of classical, jazz, rock, show tunes, Irish fiddling, and even some original music by our new faculty member, singer/songwriter Tim Torgerson, and his family band, Creation Highway. There was truly something for everyone.

The event concluded in the fellowship hall with delicious treats from Uptown Hearth and Azul Coffee Bar (Thank you Matt and Terry!) The after-gathering of concert goers and NVMS faculty and staff are exactly the reason I love living in this community — we feel a part of something much bigger than ourselves. We share a common thread and maybe even a common passion — music.

Deidre Corson is the executive director of the North Valley Music School.