Our Instructors
Photo By Annie Perkins
Lizzy Rose
Lizzy Rose is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and composer from Denver, Colorado. She received a Bachelors of Music Education at the University of Northern Colorado where she studied classical voice while simultaneously forming the indie pop-psychedelic band,Vitamins.
Lizzy began teaching young children in a classroom setting at the Montessori School of Denver in Denver, Colorado in 2008. It was here she developed her own music curriculum centered around composing songs with children, fostering performing opportunities, and developing well-rounded musicians. She began to teach private lessons in voice, piano, and guitar at this time while continuing to tour and create music in her band.
Lizzy sang and toured with The Flaming Lips, singing “Great Gig In The Sky” and backup vocals during The Flaming Lips Dark Side Of The Moon tours, where the band performed Pink Floyd’s infamous album in its entirety
During her career, she has performed at iconic venues such as The Fox Theater in Oakland, Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado, and The Gorge Amphitheater in Washington, and has appeared on the Carson Daly Show, MTV Palladia, and locally at OBP Music Studios.
In 2013, Lizzy moved to the Pacific Northwest. She began writing and recording as a solo artist and soon formed her own band, “Lizzy Rose”. While living in Seattle she appeared on the TV show, “Band in Seattle” and released her album “Crocodile Tears” in 2016. Soon after, Lizzy joined the Portland, Oregon-based band Mimicking Birds and toured the nation opening for the band Modest Mouse.
In 2018, Lizzy moved from Seattle to Portland where she continues to record and perform solo and in local bands. Lizzy combines her training as a classical singer, her studies in classical piano, with her love of indie rock, freak-folk, world and electronic music to create her unique sound. Lizzy has been teaching along-side her performing for over a decade now and enjoys influencing her students with her passion for performing, creating and learning music.
Mel Hart
Mel Hart is a singer and multi-instrumentalist musician from San Francisco, California. She received a Bachelors of Music degree from Berklee College of Music, where she studied songwriting, music production, and vocal performance.
Mel has been performing as a singer since she was 5 years old, always eager for the “lead part” in musicals as a child and solos in jazz choir as a teen. From the ages of 12-18 she performed regularly around California's Bay Area as the lead singer in the rock band Crunchy Frog. At the age of 16 and again at 17 she was selected to sing in the California All-State jazz choir led by Darmon Meader of the New York Voices.
After graduating from Berklee, Mel moved to Nashville where she performed as a singer-songwriter, honed her songwriting skills, and started to teach herself how to play violin. On a trip to France in 2020, Mel rediscovered her love for piano, and began to re-teach herself everything she forgot from her childhood piano lessons!
In 2022 Mel arrived in Portland, Oregon, where she quickly found her dream job of teaching music lessons. She spends her days practicing piano and violin and learning how to be the best teacher she can be.
Ruth Reding Hoffart
Ruth Reding Hoffart has been involved in music, especially classical music since she was very young. As a toddler, she would ask her family to play “beautiful music” when she wanted to listen to classical music. After taking piano lessons for several years, Ruth began taking voice lessons at age 12. It was love at first note!
Ruth has a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Illinois Wesleyan University where she performed in multiple choirs and operas. Some of her previous roles include the Ugly Step-Sister in “The True Story of Cinderella” by Warren Martin, the Page in Gian-Carlo Menotti’s “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” Prince Charming in Jules Massenet’s “Cendrillon,” and Despina in “Cosí fan tutte” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. She also had the wonderful opportunity to go to South Africa with the IWU Collegiate Choir when they were invited to perform at a festival in Stellenbosch, SA.
Teaching has always been something that Ruth loves. She has experience teaching in both group and individual settings, as well as extensive choral directing experience. Ruth believes that music and learning should be a joyful experience for everyone. Ruth works with all her students to decide on a learning style and repertoire that works for them.