Hailing from Southern California, Jeremy is pleased to be a part of the NVMS family and the Flathead music scene. Jeremy has been a performer, composer, arranger, and educator for 20+ years. As a graduate of USC School of Music in both percussion performance and composition, he has performed with numerous theatre companies, orchestras, pop acts, and chamber ensembles, including The Alpine Theatre Project, Glacier Symphony, The MAC Band, Double Bacon Jazz, Musical Theatre West, The Laguna Playhouse and The Hour of Power Orchestra. Jeremy has performed in over 150 musical theater productions. As a composer, Jeremy has scored for dozens of films, including horror thriller, Naked Fear, and Cannes Film Festival entrant 19 at 11. He’s also composed music for haunted attraction Fort Fear in Ohio and penned a soul tune, Justify, for The Kid & Nic Show’s album, Where you are, there you is. Back to Top

Catherine Robinson
Voice and Piano
Catherine recently retired from teaching choral music and returned to the Flathead Valley where she was born and raised. She has a bachelor’s degree in Secondary Vocal Music Education from the University of Idaho and a Masters’s degree in Choral Conducting from California State University, Los Angeles. In addition, she has an English Language Arts endorsement from the University of Washington. Catherine has been a choral director and music teacher at the middle and high school levels in public and private schools in Idaho, Washington, Montana, and New Mexico. She directed musical theatre productions at Flathead High School and Shorecrest and Kentridge High Schools in the Seattle area. She received the Outstanding Music Director award from the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle for the Kentridge Players’ production of Evita and was nominated for Little Shop of Horrors. Catherine sang with The Santa Fe Desert Chorale for six winter seasons and was the conductor of Coro de Cámara (Santa Fe and Los Alamos) for eight seasons. She also performed with The Santa Fe Opera and has sung leading and supporting roles in musicals and operas in Idaho and Washington. She has sung with the New Mexico Symphony Chorale and the Portland Symphonic Choir and will be singing with the Glacier Symphony Chorale this season. Catherine is pleased to be teaching voice and piano at North Valley Music School this year and looks forward to meeting new students of all ages. Back to Top

Matt Seymour
Bass and Beginner Guitar
A seasoned bassist and music aficionado, with over 25 years of professional experience. Rooted in a family legacy of musicians, Matt’s journey into the world of music began early, as he explored his father’s record collection and experimented with the piano. Starting with guitar and eventually gravitating toward the bass at the young age of 8, Matt’s musical journey took flight under the guidance of his father, Dan Seymour. During his formative years at McMinnville High School, Matt found inspiration in the mentorship of his exceptional music teacher, Dana Libonati. Pursuing his passion further, he delved into the realm of jazz and upright bass under the teachings of the renowned musician and composer David Friesen in Portland. His musical education continued under the wing of Dave Barduhn at Mount Hood Community College. Beyond the world of music, Matt’s love for nature led him to study Outdoor Recreation in Bend, Oregon, and eventually, to the snowy slopes of Whitefish in 2012, where he dedicated himself to both the vibrant Flathead music scene and the art of working and living in the skiing community. Matt has contributed his talents to a range of musical projects and collaborations, from the Jake Blair Band and James LaRocca Project to Voodoun Moi and Mike Strickland. Currently, he’s actively engaged in projects like MAC Band, Double Bacon Jazz, Archertown, and more, showcasing his versatility and dedication to diverse musical styles. His passion for music is matched only by his commitment to nurturing the talents of aspiring musicians. With a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the intricacies of music, Matt brings a unique blend of expertise and creativity to his teaching. Join Matt in his musical journey, where every note is an opportunity to explore and grow. Back to Top

 Tim Torgerson 
Guitar, Ukulele, Bass, Songwriting
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. Back to Top

Rachel Wambeke
Piano, Voice, Violin
Rachel Wambeke is the granddaughter of NVMS co-founder Betty Lou Wambeke. She started piano lessons with Betty Lou at 3 years old. She began violin lessons at age 6, continuing her musical studies at NVMS. She was also involved in many musical theatre productions with local community theatres, including Mary Lennox in WTC’s Secret Garden. During her high school years, she played violin regularly in the Glacier Symphony. She went on to study Music Education at Montana State University, studying piano with Laurel Yost, violin with Angela Ahn, and voice with Elizabeth Croy. She also played in the MSU Symphony and sang with the MSU Chorale and the Montanans 16-voice ensemble. In the fall of 2017, she graduated with her Bachelor of Music Education degree, (Broadfield K-12) as a vocal major. Earlier that summer, she played violin professionally in the Festival Amadeus orchestra.The following year, she moved to Pennsylvania for an intensive Musical Theatre Conservatory at the Sight and Sound Theatres. There, she performed in 8-11 professional shows weekly and studied singing for the stage, acting, and dancing. Recently moved back to Whitefish, she is excited to invest into the next generation of musicians through voice, violin, and piano lessons. She wants to continue the legacy of her grandmother and is thrilled to have come full circle to teach at the North Valley Music School. Back to Top

Deidre Corson
Executive Director
Deidre began working for NVMS in the fall of 2016 after serving 3 years on the Board of Directors.  The power of music has always been a passion in her life.  She has a Bachelor’s of Music Education from the University of Montana where she studied Voice with the late Esther England, played flute and saxophone in the band, and was the Drum Major of the Grizzly Marching Band. Outside of NVMS she is a singer/songwriter and performed 10 years with the local band Engine 99.  Deidre has lived in Montana since 1995 and enjoys a full life with her husband, Tim, two children, Cody and Sienna Pearl, and the fluffy music school dog, Monty. She loves to ski, hike, raft, camp, and take advantage of all Montana has to offer. Back to Top

Andraya Johnson
Office Manager
Nurture. Love. Mother. Grandmother. Organize. Peace. Andraya was an Orthopedic Surgeons Office Manager for approximately 9 years prior to her family’s move to Montana in 2007. She has moved throughout the valley into different similar positions, finally alighting here at NVMS early in 2020. Andraya is a wife, mother of four, and grandmother of eleven, as well as a pretty good seamstress. She and her husband Jeff enjoy hiking, biking, cross country skiing, and fishing. Although she doesn’t play or teach any instruments, Andraya loves music and was drawn to NVMS for that reason. Back to Top