Beckie Hocker
Director and Flute Instructor | Beckie Hocker began her music education at an early age by being involved in band and singing in community choirs. Her musical interest continued through high school where she began to develop her flute & piccolo playing and singing for school and outside performances. She went on to study at the University of Nevada, Reno where she remained active in her involvement in school with small and large ensembles, choir, and marching band, in addition to her involvement in outside community ensembles. It wasn’t until she moved to Portland in 1990 that she began her private instruction studio. She has been teaching in the Tigard area for over 23 years, primarily working with beginning to upper-intermediate students. She truly enjoys working with all levels of ability to help students gain appreciation and love of music with their chosen instrument. She has worked at a local middle school as the band assistant, conducting 6-8 grade bands, flute choir and jazz band. She continues to volunteer in the local middle schools to help beginning flute students and offering flute sectionals. She has been a part of Portland area choirs in both ensemble and solo capacities as well. Her biggest passion is to give every young student an opportunity to learn music by fostering the dedication as well as the enjoyment of what it takes play an instrument. She truly believes that learning to appreciate music and musical development is a gift for life.
Director and Flute Instructor
...Sr. M. Juliana Monti
Sr. Juliana: In her own words From the third grade on I knew that I wanted to be a Sister. Devotion to Our Lady was instilled by the example of my mother who never failed to go to Mary with big and small requests and never failed to adorn her altar at St. Ignatius Church with beautiful bouquets in thanksgiving. A love of Scripture was fostered by a Child’s Bible and The Lives of the Saints which I loved to read. It didn’t hurt that I loved the Holy Name Sisters. My mother was taught by the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon (SSMO) and we would often visit with her favorite teacher, Mother Mary Angela. I was always going to go to Marylhurst College but my mother wanted me to go to the University of Portland, which was coed, and board there. I knew that, when I was able to enter, I would. So I told my parents that I would go to University of Portland but would stay at home. I wanted to be with them as long as I could. I chose the Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon because they would allow me to visit my parents’ home if I was driving in the area. At that time, the Sisters of the Holy Name of Jesus and Mary would not. And so, with my parents blessing, I entered our Community, Sisters of St. Mary of Oregon, when I was six months from my twenty-first birthday. God has been very good to me and my soul is filled with peace and joy.
Mila Bada
Piano | Mila Bada graduated from the University of Santo Tomas High School (run by the Dominican Orders of Preachers). Located in Manila, Philippines, the university was established in 1611 and is the oldest university in Asia. Ms. Bado graduated with a bachelor’s degree in music and an associate’s degree in arts (music) from the Philippine Women's University, home of the world-renowned Bayanihan Dance Troupe, where she has been an active participant in dance, choir and the instrumentalist group. She was taught by the music director, the dean of the Conservatory of Music. Her graduation recital was Concerto in F, no. 5, by Camille Saint-Saens, with Manila Phil-Harmonic Symphony. Her junior/associate recital was Concerto in A major, no. 488 by Mozart.
...Justin Bulava
Henriët Fourie
Junko Gilliland
Piano | Junko Gilliland has been living in the United States for 13 years. She began studying piano at the age of 2 years old and trained to become a classical concert pianist. At the age of 18, Junko decided to study as a music therapist in the U.S. Junko has a bachelor’s degree in music therapy from Marylhurst University with a focus in piano studies. She has been teaching piano lessons to students of all ages and abilities for the past 10 years.
...Collin Heade
Cello | As an Oregonian, Collin Heade has enjoyed teaching cello and performing for many years. He has performed as principal with the Oregon Chamber Players and the Oregon Arts Orchestra, with whom he has performed much of Europe over three tours. He is also a member of the Oregon Chamber Players Quartet, performing with flute, oboe & viola. As a conductor he is celebrating his 11th season as artistic director and conductor of the Westside Community & Youth Orchestra in Hillsboro; and his 10th season as conductor of the Junior Symphony of Vancouver, WA. Collin has earnestly taken up composing, which he thoroughly enjoys, and has written several pieces with diverse instrumentation. He has been selected as a finalist in three categories for The Amercian Prize, which celebrates American excellence in the performing arts. These fields include orchestral programming, an orchestral/choral composition titled “An Abandoned Lighthouse,” and an orchestral composition for his three movement work “Expressions” for string orchestra. Over these last several months, in striving to maintain a connection with orchestral members and students, Collin has written an assortment of theoretical Letters to the Orchestra. These were sent out to members during the pandemic, in an attempt to simplify an assortment of music theory related topics in a fun and easy to understand array of musical examples. For the teacher/conductor there is nothing finer than witnessing the maturing growth within a student and musician thru their instrument. Sending them on their path to further focus and goals inspires the teacher within.
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Sue Lewis
Violin | Sue Lewis earned a music degree from Portland State University in 2006 plus two distinction medals for violin performance and music theory and the Merit Award for viola performance from the Associated Board of the Royal School of Music, London, England. Performing on violin, viola, cello and double bass in a variety of ensembles - musical theater pit orchestras, string quartets, the Vancouver Symphony, rock, jazz, tango, Middle Eastern, bluegrass, Gypsy and folk - has formed her imaginative and versatile style. Currently she is the arranger and violinist with Mango Nights, a jazz ensemble, and produced the highly acclaimed album, ‘Reason to Live’.
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Kyle Molitor
Seung Min Oh
Piano | Seung Min Oh, native of South Korea, had her initial piano training at the age of four. She was a recipient of various piano competition prizes and honor awards during her high school years at Sunhwa Arts School in Seoul, Korea. She holds a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music degree in organ at Yonsei University in Seoul where she studied with Dr. Tong-Soon Kwak. She was also multiple recipients of Yonsei University Honor Awards and academic merit-based scholarships. In 1997 she relocated to Cleveland to continue her organ study with Todd Wilson and harpsichord with Janina Ceaser at Cleveland Institute of Music. In 1999 she received her second Master of Music degree in organ from Cleveland Institute of Music with the Henry Fusner Award. In 2003, she relocated to Bloomington, Indiana, for her doctoral study in organ with Dr. Christopher Young and received her doctorate in 2011. She served as associate instructor in the Piano Department at IU for two years. She also served as piano instructor at Midway Covenant Christian School in GA from 2011-2013.
...Albert Palmeter
Piano | Albert Palmeter has taught piano, theory and composition for over 40 years. During high school he performed a concerto in the Mozart Marathon in Los Angeles. He earned his bachelors degree in piano performance at UCLA, where he won first prize in two piano competitions. He was pianist/keyboardist for the Tempe Symphony Orchestra from 2004 to 2012. Mr. Palmeter ‘s passion for teaching extends equally to students of all ages and levels of ability, from beginners to concert performers. He begins each area of study - note reading, practicing strategies, ear training, technique, interpretation/expression, theory and composition - by showing his students its essence, so they do not get lost in the details. Teaching his students how to be creative and strategic problem solvers gives them power over their results and makes learning fun.
...Rebecca Schappert
Chris Swanson
Violin | A California central-coast native, Chris Swanson started Suzuki-method violin at the age of 4 with Carol Kersten, and later studied with Ronald Copes (current member of the Julliard String Quartet), at the University of Texas at Austin, Indiana University at Bloomington (where Christ received his bachelor’s degree in music), and Oberlin College (baroque violin). He has taught violin to students aged 3 to 68 in the United States and Japan (in Japanese), and has over 30 years of experience performing and recording orchestral, chamber, film, musical theater, and early music. Chris also plays violin and electric violin in popular and improvisational styles such as blues, jazz, rock, pop, folk, and country. After living in Japan for 10 years, Chris returned to California where he taught violin and English as a Second Language in the Southern California area for seven years. He recently moved to the Portland, Oregon area with his wife and young son. He is enjoying exploring the area and excited to be joining the Valley Catholic community.
...Misty Williams
Harp | As a lifelong musician, Misty Williams started harp lessons at the age of 4. She began teaching in 2002, and set up a permanent harp studio in Portland in 2006. With over 25 years' experience, Misty now focuses on teaching harp performance, technique, music theory, arrangement, and composition with students of all ages and skill level. Misty received her bachelor's and master's degrees in harp performance from the University of Arizona, with Dr. Carrol McLaughlin. At that time, she was honored to perform both as a solo musician and as a member of HarpFusion, the University’s world-famous touring harp ensemble. While completing her degrees, she toured nationally and internationally, with concerts in Switzerland, China, Korea, and Spain. Misty is a harpist of many styles. She has studied music from around the world and enjoys adapting it for the harp. She believes that all music has its benefits and the most interesting music pulls from many influences.
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Anson Wright
Guitar | Jazz guitarist, composer, novelist, poet, and educator Anson Wright has performed throughout the United States and abroad, including India. A graduate of Princeton, he left graduate studies at Columbia to pursue both music and literary careers. In addition to his three featured jazz CD's, including his December 2019 CD, Only Love, he has authored three books. His poetry was set to music in the 2008 spoken-word CD, The Sky At Our Feet. Anson has studied with Howard Roberts, Jerry Hahn, John Stowell and many others. He has taught at numerous schools including New York University, Pacific University, and Portland Community College. www.ansonwright.com
"Wright is thoughtful in his writing and on the guitar he can articulate seamless, fiery ideas. He can also express great tenderness. Wright may not be a household name, but he should be."
All About Jazz
"The quality of his playing is exceptional ... In sheer color and variety, in the depth of its characterization and the exceptional range and refinement of his guitar playing, Mr. Wright imparts a powerful stature to everything that he plays."
Jazz da Gama
"Wright's ability to combine technical prowess and beauty is truly the pearl within."
Jazz Sensibilities
“Finely honed musical intelligence.”
The Oregonian