About Us
North Valley Music School is a community-based, intergenerational music school. We were formed as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization in 1997 and teach over 700 students annually from babies to adults through private lessons, group classes, ensembles, summer camps, and workshops. North Valley Music School admits students of any race, color, nationality, sex, identity, ethnic origin, or religious affiliation.
North Valley Music School is the only non-profit, community music school in Montana. Located in beautiful Whitefish, we bring music to over 1,500 community members each year with our faculty and student concerts and community performances. Our faculty offers private lessons in Piano, Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass, Electric Bass, Voice, Guitar, Electric Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin, Banjo, Harp, Percussion, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Trumpet, and Saxophone. Scholarships are available for all ages. NVMS relies on donations and grants from individuals, businesses, and foundations to provide affordable, high-quality music education for all.
NVMS is located at 1998 River Lakes Parkway, on Smith Fields, with easy access from Columbia Falls and Kalispell, near the corner of Hwy 40 and 93.
Accessibility
NVMS is fully accessible for students or audiences with disabilities. Handicapped parking is available. NVMS has teachers experienced in teaching students with disabilities. Large print programs are available for recitals and performances.
For ADA questions please call or email NVMS Executive Director at 406-862-8074.
North Valley Music School is open to students, volunteers, and employees of any race, color, nationality, sex, ethnic origin or religious affiliation.
PARKING
Handicapped parking and access are available at NVMS.
LARGE PRINT
Large print programs are available for recitals and performances if requested at least 72 hours in advance from the NVMS office. 406-862-8074
SIGN LANGUAGE
Sign language interpreters may be provided for selected performances. Reservations for these performances must be made a minimum of two weeks prior to the performance.
Board & Advisors
NVMS has a Board of Directors with up to 15 members. Our board meets monthly throughout the year and each member serves on one of our standing committees – Development, Executive, Governance, Internal Affairs (Finance and Facilities), and Programs/Marketing. Board members serve three-year terms up to two terms. If you are interested in serving on our Board please contact us at 406-862-8074. Click here for Board Member Application.
Board of Directors
- Christine Rossi, President
- Joel Lockwood, Vice President
- Cameron Blake
- Summer Boggess-Hertz
- Brian Hertz
- Yovita Meigs
- Eric Schmidt
- Toby Scott
- Nancy Thompson
- Sam Welch
- Katie Williams
Advisors
- Lin Akey
- Ross Anderson
- Donald Bestwick
- Jamie Carbo
- Paul Conrad
- Karl Cozad
- Matt Daniels
- Mike Eldred
- David Hunt
- Jim Kenyon
- Betsy Kohnstamm
- John Kramer
- Steve Lull
- John Muhlfeld
- Terry Nelson
- Carolyn Pitman
- Scott Ringer
- Toby Scott
- Jenanne Solberg
- Karen Sweetapple
- Carter Unger
- Doug Wise
The North Valley Music School takes pride in its highly trained, experienced teachers. A majority of our faculty have music and/or music education degrees from accredited institutions, with a major in their principal subject taught and/or have the equivalent professional experience to their credit. Interested in joining our musical team? Click HERE.
Faculty & Staff
Mission & History
Mission
North Valley Music School enriches our Montana communities through music education, appreciation, and performance by offering musical opportunities for all.
Vision Statement
NVMS is a leader in music education and excellence, providing high-quality music instruction and seeking innovative ways to make music education a part of everyday lives with the belief that everyone has the potential to experience, enjoy, create, and develop a lasting love of music.
History
North Valley Music School began with a conversation in the Whitefish Post Office in the fall of 1997 between Betty Lou Wambeke and Betsy Kohnstamm. Betty Lou was a well-known piano teacher in Whitefish and a graduate of the Toronto Conservatory with teaching experience at a music school near Vancouver. Betsy had some non-profit experience, some children ripe for music lessons, and played the cello in the Glacier Symphony. These two quickly formed a partnership and gathered some students together that fall for a first chamber music concert. The Board of Directors gathered in the spring, non-profit status was obtained, and we rented the United Methodist church’s Sunday school rooms for the fall of 1998. At that time the church was located at 7th and Pine, the current site of Whitefish Independent High School.
North Valley Music School enriches our Montana communities through music education, appreciation, and performance by offering musical opportunities for all.
NVMS is a leader in music education and excellence, providing high-quality music instruction and seeking innovative ways to make music education a part of everyday lives with the belief that everyone has the potential to experience, enjoy, create, and develop a lasting love of music.
North Valley Music School began with a conversation in the Whitefish Post Office in the fall of 1997 between Betty Lou Wambeke and Betsy Kohnstamm. Betty Lou was a well-known piano teacher in Whitefish and a graduate of the Toronto Conservatory with teaching experience at a music school near Vancouver. Betsy had some non-profit experience, some children ripe for music lessons, and played the cello in the Glacier Symphony. These two quickly formed a partnership and gathered some students together that fall for a first chamber music concert. The Board of Directors gathered in the spring, non-profit status was obtained, and we rented the United Methodist church’s Sunday school rooms for the fall of 1998. At that time the church was located at 7th and Pine, the current site of Whitefish Independent High School.
We began with Suzuki-based violin and piano lessons, preschool group music classes, and then added guitar, voice, and cello shortly thereafter. Early board priorities were to begin music education early in life, offer Suzuki instruction for the early years as the inclusion of parents in the learning was so critical, include parents as volunteers and stakeholders in the non-profit school, and offer many recitals so children would have the opportunity to play in public at least once a month. NVMS moved the school to the Sunday school space at the Presbyterian Church downtown. We spent two years in this rental location and without the help of the generous Boards of these two churches the school would probably not exist today.
The school grew and we added teachers while sticking to our Suzuki roots. We sent staff members to various trainings and worked on establishing better organizational and financial routines. In the first years, billing, payroll, and financial affairs were done by loyal Board members. Leadership positions taken by Betsy and Betty Lou shifted dramatically. when BettyLou suffered a debilitating stroke that left her handicapped in her ability to communicate.
During the summer of 2001, due to a generous donor, the means were found to buy our own home at 432 Spokane Ave. Donations poured in from many sides as furniture was purchased, another donor loaned us the funds for a new furnace, many hours of volunteer work went into painting, and contractors built a new bathroom and wheelchair ramp.
Over the years the school has gradually established its identity in the community and the state as a unique non-profit music school. Programs continue to expand and have included in recent years the expansion of summer music opportunities, more early childhood music classes using the Music Together curriculum and expanded guitar and string opportunities. Grants and donations continue to fund many programs at the school and the support of the Montana Arts Council in recent years has been critical.
Our Board is a hands-on working board, though much of the day-to-day management and operation of the school has been turned over to paid staff. Office hours are Monday – Thursday, 10 – 5. Stop in — we’d love the opportunity to visit with you!