Music School


The love of music for a lifetime

The love of music for a lifetime.

The Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon have a nearly 140-year tradition of fostering and encouraging music and the arts throughout our school. At Valley Catholic Music School, we believe music should be an opportunity for everyone to learn and grow.

From kindergarten through adults, VC Music School is available to everyone.

The Music School provides students with numerous opportunities to listen to, appreciate, and play music. Just as important, Valley Catholic Music School offers private music lessons throughout the school year for children and adults.

Contact Valley Catholic Music School via email or by calling 503-718-6499 for more information.

Join us and share the joy of music today.


Letter from our Director

At Valley Catholic Music School, we believe that playing a musical instrument enhances and benefits our students’ lives. We provide an opportunity for every student to develop his or her musical talent in a fun, challenging and safe environment.

Our dedicated and talented instructors work with students of all ages and abilities. Students learn to read music, develop technique & theory, and discover different genres and composers from all over the world. Students will also have the opportunity to share their musical talent with others through performance.

Research has shown that dedication to learning an instrument through sustained attention and creative thinking builds classroom and academic skills. In addition, studying music increases cognitive skills through problem solving, goal setting and flexible thinking.

We look forward to being a part of your musical journey!


Join us for an Evening and Day of Music! Recitals are open to all and free to attend.

Winter Recitals
Location: Motherhouse Ground Floor Auditorium

February 23

  • Henriet Fourie, Voice & Junko Gilliland, Piano
    6:00-7:00 pm
  • Chris Swanson, Violin
    7:00-8:00 pm

February 24

  • Misty Williams, Harp
    12:00-1:00 pm – Location: Motherhouse Room 2AB
  • Seung Min Oh, Piano
    1:00-2:00 pm
  • Mila Bada, Piano
    2:00-3:00 pm
  • Rebecca Schappert, Piano
    3:00-4:00 pm
  • Albert Palmeter, Piano
    4:00-5:00 pm
  • Sue Lewis, Violin
    5:00-6:00 pm
  • Beckie Hocker, Flute
    6:00-7:00 pm

Spring Recitals
Location: HS Auditorium

April 19

  • Henriet Fourie, Voice & Junko Gilliland, Piano
    6:00-7:00 pm
  • Chris Swanson, Violin
    7:00-8:00 pm

April 20

  • Seung Min Oh, Piano
    11:00-12:00 pm
  • Misty Williams, Harp
    12:00-1:00 pm (location in the Motherhouse Room 2AB)
  • Mila Bada, Piano
    2:00-3:00 pm
  • Rebecca Schappert, Piano
    3:00-4:00 pm
  • Sue Lewis, Violin
    4:00-5:00 pm
  • Albert Palmeter, Piano
    5:00-6:00 pm
  • Beckie Hocker, Flute
    6:00-7:00 pm

Oregon Mozart Player and Junior Division Finalist, Flute, 13

Morgan T. is an 8th grade student at Valley Catholic Middle School. She is a longtime student of flute teacher Beckie Hocker, who started Morgan on the fife and recorder at age five. Morgan quickly graduated to flute by second grade and has been performing flute in her school orchestra ever since. She cherishes the years she spent as a student of the late Travis Hatton, who was the former Valley Catholic orchestra teacher and Beaverton Symphony conductor. 

Currently, Morgan is enjoying her third season with Portland Youth Wind Ensemble under the direction of conductor Giancarlo Castro D’Addona. She is also a member of the Valley Catholic Flutissimos, a flute choir that often performs at nursing homes, festivals, and other community venues. When not practicing flute, Morgan strives to improve her piccolo and alto flute skills, performs with the school pep band at sports events, plays flute/harp duets with her sister, and spends time with her family. She also enjoys track and field, pickleball, reading graphic novels, learning Mandarin, chatting with friends, listening to music, and brewing milk tea. 


Two talented VCS musicians featured in All Classical Portland Radio.

Two exceptional Valley Catholic Music School musicians were profiled in All Classical Portland’s “On Deck with Young Musicians.” Their interviews are now available on the website. Valiants Ayush Wynkoop and Daphne Tran shared their musical experiences, inspirations and their deep appreciation for classical music.

“I saw the opportunity to be interviewed for “On Deck with Young Musicians” as a major milestone long before I was ever a candidate to be interviewed. The voices of my musical peers in the Portland area—whether I am acquainted with them or not—have been an inspiration to me, and I am happy to be on the list myself now. I am grateful for the chance to be heard and to share my experience,” said Ayush, a junior at Valley Catholic High School. “Valley Catholic Music School has been the most important influence in shaping my abilities in music and my enjoyment for the art. I feel a sense of togetherness with the community of dedicated students and teachers, and playing in the school’s programs has been a major part in my development as a musician. I owe much of my musical accomplishments, including skill and repertoire, as well as being interviewed for On Deck, to my flute instructor, Ms. Beckie Hocker, who has educated and encouraged me to find joy in playing music.”

“Valley Catholic has given me the gift of music and instilled in me the joy of music,” said Daphne, a sophomore at Valley Catholic High School. “Because of VCS, I believe that making music will always be part of my lifelong journey.”

Are you ready to find the love of music for a lifetime? Valley Catholic Music School is open to the public and offers private music lessons for people ages kindergarten to adult. Visit valleycatholic.org/music-school to learn more and register today.