Tim Torgerson

Tim started at NVMS in 2019. Guitarist/singer/songwriter/loop artist, a Whitefish, Montana native, plays his “progressive/acoustic/indie” style of music throughout the Northwest and beyond as a solo artist and with his band Creation Highway. Tim is described by other artists as “a virtuoso finger-style guitarist” and “a musician’s musician”. The Daily Inter Lake wrote, “a remarkable guitarist who writes songs that draw from jazz and rock influences and tell stories from the heart.” His own sound has emerged through influences from acoustic and electric guitar music, jazz, blues, progressive rock, classical, experimental, funk, reggae, soul, and anything that moves him. Music has taken Tim to Asia, the Middle East, and across North America, playing at events and venues such as Acoustic Palooza, Blue Note, House of Blues, Crown Of The Continent, and many more. He has shared the stage with Phil Keaggy, Shawn Mullins, and Stephen Stills to mention only a few. Flathead Living and Missoula Living magazines described hearing Tim live; “After only a few musical notes…chords of another world filled the room” and “Watching and listening to Tim play guitar is like what it would be to see Picasso Paint.” Tim also teaches and mentors privately, in schools, groups, workshop settings and has been developing his own curriculum for guitarists and other musicians. He focuses mainly on guitar, songwriting, and arranging skills for students of all ages, styles, and levels, but also teaches bass, ukelele, keyboard, production, songwriting, arranging, chord theory & general music mentoring. Tim has studied with Pat Metheny, Lee Ritenour, Koinonia, Chris Proctor, Emily Remler, Pierre Bensusan, Mike Stern, Doyle Dykes, David Wilcox, and others. Tim’s vocal instructors include Pat Williams at the University of Montana, Bret Manning, and Greg Enrico (teaching Seth Ryggs’ Method). The continual growth and passion in Tim’s own musical journey have meant inspiration and resources for his students as well. He taught at Summit Preparatory School for well over a decade, hosting a weekly Guitar Club and teaching private lessons to at-risk youth. He taught group lessons at Salish and Kootenai College, Bigfork Junior High Aces Program. In addition to the fulfillment of seeing students excel as musicians, Tim has enjoyed the development of some really good friendships and opportunities to speak encouraging words.