Music School begins new program year

North Valley Music School has begun its 2023-24 program year with a full schedule of diverse and inclusive music programs.

The nonprofit music school matches high-quality instruction from experienced musicians with students of all ages, backgrounds, and skill levels.

A multitude of options for musical instruction is offered, including: Music Together, early childhood group experience for ages 0-5 with a caregiver, Glee Club, a free Children’s Choir for ages 7-12, Flathead Valley Youth Symphony for middle school and high school string, wind, and percussion players, bluegrass jam 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and acoustic jam 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays for all ages. It is also planning a jazz ensemble.

Also offered is private instruction in piano, violin, viola, cello, bass (double and electric), drum set, percussion, voice, guitar (acoustic and electric), mandolin, banjo (clawhammer and scruggs styles), fiddle, harp, saxophone, flute, music theory, and jazz theory.

To meet the growing demand for increased enrolment, NVMS has also hired four new faculty members, Jolene Green, Pam Harrington, Kate McMahon, and Eric Holdhusen.

A native of Whitefish, Green was introduced to music by her middle school music directors Jenanne Solberg and Mark McCrady. Green was a student of NVMS until she moved to Missoula to pursue a degree in jazz studies. She recently graduated from the University of Montana where she studied under Johan Eriksson and held top spots in the school’s highest-performing jazz bands for numerous years. She will be teaching saxophone, beginner clarinet, and jazz studies.

Harrington started playing violin at the age of 4 with fiddle music, and transitioned to classical music after moving to Arcadia, California. She studied briefly under Henry Gronnier at the Colburn school in L.A., and spent three summers at Interlochen Arts Camp. In 2021, Harrington moved to Montana to be closer to family. Currently, she is studying at FVCC as a music composition/violin performance major, and is a recent member of the Glacier Symphony. She will be teaching violin.

McMahon was born in Champaign, Illinois and moved to Great Falls, in 1997 where she started a jam session that introduced her to the Montana bluegrass scene. She has been on the board and newsletter editor for the Montana Rockies Bluegrass Association for 12-years and has performed in several bluegrass bands. In 2005, McMahon moved to Whitefish and enjoys sharing her love of bluegrass music by organizing jams, writing articles for the newsletter and playing at local nursing homes. She believes in the power of music to bring family and friends together. McMahon is teaching three-finger picking — Scruggs style banjo.

Holdhusen will begin directing the Flathead Valley Youth Symphony. Holdhusen is also a product of North Valley Music School. He started violin lessons at the age of 4 and picked up trumpet in the seventh grade with the guidance of Jenanne Solberg and Mark McCrady, as well. He earned his Bachelor of Music at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, and while there, he performed and toured with the St. Olaf Orchestra, top jazz ensemble, and the St. Olaf Band, the latter of which he served as Vice President during his senior year. Following graduation, he moved back to the Flathead Valley where he currently serves as director of orchestras at Flathead High School and is a violinist in the Glacier Symphony.

Registration tools and more details can be found at northvalleymusicschool.org or by calling 406-862-8074. Availability is limited and scholarships are available.