Our Story
Tina Riley, Director/Instructor
Tina Riley, the Director of Valley View Music, has been teaching music for over 25 years. She has a passion for her faith, for people, and a passion for music that bring an exciting element to the classroom and the stage.
On June 15, 2001, David Douglas Riley, the second son of Tina and her husband Doug, passed into the arms of Jesus at the age of 9.
As Tina and her whole family coped with this tremendous loss, a part of their healing was found in the formation of a music program, and the North County Homeschool Music Program was born. It quickly grew to include public and private students as well and became known as North County Music Academy (NCMA). Thanks to many months of hard work by Doug, NCMA became a Non-profit 501(c)3 academy. It began with 30 students and grew over the next 16 years to over 250 students.
The entire Riley family participated with NCMA, and many of the students that graduated through NCMA have gone on to attend various colleges while majoring in music. Tina’s students have gone on to become professional performance musicians, worship pastors, worship leaders, music teachers, youth workers, and many have families where music is an integral part of their lives.
​
In 2015, the Rileys began to feel a strengthening of their lifelong desire to relocate to Montana. They have family in Helena and have vacationed many times in NW Montana. Circumstances in their hometown in western Washington led to further opportunity, and Doug was hired March 2016 at the hospital in Kalispell. Through many miraculous happenings, the entire Riley family -four generations! - made the migration over and have all settled fully and happily in Kalispell.
​
So what happened to NCMA? The academy continued under new direction and in 2016 became Cascade Academy of Music and Arts (CAMA). Their website, cascadeacademy.org is full of information about the program, its beginnings under the Rileys, and pictures of many of Tina’s students… the structure of the program remains the same today as when the Rileys left.
​
Tina’s years at George Fox University as a music major; time spent playing in the Chehalem Valley Symphony, George Fox Jazz, and the Skagit Valley Symphony; time spent singing under Dr. Gary Bonnor; as well as continuing education through choral director and instrumental workshops and clinics have provided the solid foundation she’s built her music programs upon. Tina has also directed adult community choirs and bands, judged for music festivals, taught music in private school, and taught many workshops and clinics over the years. She’s performed at numerous weddings, funerals, and women’s events, and enjoys using her abilities to glorify God and bless others.
​
She is thrilled to begin an exciting new music program here in the Flathead Valley and looks forward to what the future will bring through Valley View Music!