A letter from Valley Catholic Music School Director Beckie Hocker
Dear Music School Families,
November recitals were a complete success. Thank you to all of our instructors, students and especially, parents! We know it is a team effort for your young musicians to learn, practice and grow musically. We all appreciate the importance every family gives to their child’s music education. Winter recitals will be held Feb. 21 and 22, 2025. Inquire with your instructor on their specific time.
Winter Break: The Music School will be closed for Winter Break from Dec. 23 through Jan. 3, 2025. Lessons will resume Jan. 6, 2025. Please remember, no lessons during Winter Break have been calculated into your 24/25 tuition. We want you to enjoy time with your family, sharing traditions and, of course, music together! Have a wonderful holiday season!
If you are interested in starting the new year with lessons, visit the music department webpage at https://ssmo.org/vcs/schools/music/ to review available classes and schedules before registering.
Instructor of the Month
Henriët Fourie-Thompson, Voice and Piano
Fearless soprano Henriët Fourie sings with “luminous tone and security.” (Chicago Classical Review) Emitting an uncommon “vibrancy and urgency” (Chicago Classical Review) in oratorio performance, Fourie has been featured as a soloist at The Ravinia Festival, June in Buffalo, The Piccolo Spoleto Festival USA, The Handel Week Festival, Chicago’s annual Schubertiade, and with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Slee Sinfonietta and the Bella Voce Sinfonia. She has worked with several notable conductors, including such luminaries as Marin Alsop, Ricardo Muti, Carlos Kalmar, Andrés Arozco-Estrada, and Gil Rose on stages including Carnegie Hall, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, and Pritzker Pavilion at Millennium Park. A sensitive and sophisticated collaborator, Fourie sings with In Mulieribus, Cappella Romana, and Cantores in Ecclesia. She is also a certified Suzuki voice teacher and has enjoyed years of being a committed teacher to singers of all ages. A native of South Africa, Fourie resides in Portland, Ore. with her husband, trombonist Andrew Thompson, and their two sons Jurgen and Cornelius. Fourie holds degrees in Vocal and Piano Performance from the College of Charleston and a Masters of Music Degree in Vocal Performance from DePaul University where she studied with Julia Bentley. Henriët is also one of our Summer Music Camp Instructors teaching voice to all of our music camp participants.
Enjoy the holidays and we look forward to seeing our students again in the new year.
From all of us at Valley Catholic Music School,
Beckie Hocker,
Director of Music
To learn more about VC Music School, visit ssmo.org/vcs/schools/music or follow us on Facebook and Instagram or email me directly.
