As hopefully you know, our long-established nonprofit community music school is in need of a new home. We have the design, the property, the approval of the City, and $3.9 million raised. We still need an outpouring of community support to reach our $6.5 million goal.
Happily, North Valley Music School has recently received two $100,000 gifts for the construction of the new music school and campus.
Linda Smith Wendfeldt sponsored a vocal studio in memory of her father, Rollie Smith, who had a beautiful tenor voice and in honor of her daughter, Holly Smith Hartsough (Rollie’s granddaughter), who spent hours in NVMS’s preschool music classes with her three children.
“The new space for the North Valley Music School will provide our wonderful Whitefish folk, young and old, the opportunity to discover talents they never knew they had.” said Linda Smith Wendfelt. “Wonderful friends and memories will be made through the years.”
The other studio sponsorship is from the Kramer family, in memory of Jack and Gloria Kramer. “Our entire family is very pleased and proud to be a major donor to this important community project. Music can change lives,” said John Kramer. “With fundraising now reaching $4 million, we encourage everyone to help this nonprofit music school raise the total $6.5 million needed so NVMS can break ground this coming summer in 2023.”
When completed, the campus will serve over 500 music students each year. Twenty faculty offer music lessons and programs at NVMS’s current location at 432 Spokane Avenue in Whitefish. The proposed facility will provide nearly 8500 square feet of space for private studios, group classrooms, staff offices, and a multi-purpose recital space. The campus will have ample safe parking, two outdoor performance spaces, and a musical playground.
With these two new donations, NVMS now has six of the fifteen studios sponsored. Other studios are sponsored by Steve Lull, Alpine Village Center, the Cadeau Foundation, and one is in memory of former Columbia Falls music teacher, Cindy Cameron.
“We are forever grateful to these families for honoring their loved ones in this meaningful way,” said Executive Director Deidre Corson. “Music is eternal and we hope that their gifts create even more momentum needed to bring our new musical campus to life. We’d love to reach the $5 million mark by the end of the year and start 2023 strong!”
As mentioned, NVMS has already raised almost $4 million in gifts and pledges. Thank you to everyone who has invested in this incredible addition to music in Montana and our community!
Reaching the $6.5 million fundraising goal and breaking ground in 2023 will coincide with another historic milestone for the organization: the music school’s 25th Anniversary.
To sponsor a studio, receive more information on the project, or contribute to the campaign in any way, one can call 406-862-8074, email deidre@northvalleymusicschool.org, or visit www.nvms.me
Your support is key!