community-music-center-81551

Join the CMC Inc. Board & Annual Meeting Announcement

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:19:21 GMT

Two ways to engage with the all-volunteer CMC board

Apply to Serve

Interested in providing access to quality music learning opportunities to low-income households in the Portland area? Join the Community Music Center, Inc. board ! Our non-profit board is accepting applications from people interested in being nominated for a voting position on our board of directors, for service starting in June, 2026. While all are welcome and encouraged to apply, we are especially looking for people with some experience with non-profit finances, fundraising and major gift campaigns, commercial real estate, and legal. Having prior board experience or residing in outer East Portland are both a plus.

Application Process

Use this link to apply by April 27, 2026: https://cmc.app.neoncrm.com /survey.jsp?surveyId=63
A member of our board nominating committee will then reach out to you to arrange a meeting (in-person or virtual), and a site tour for those unfamiliar with our main site.
The board approves the slate of nominees in its May meeting
The membership elects the board members in its Annual Meeting in June
Board service starts in June.

About the Community Music Center (CMC)

Through a partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R), CMC provides opportunities to learn about, make, and enjoy music for the greater Portland community. We offer private lessons for youth, group classes for youth and adults, ensembles, and a rehearsal/performance space for the community. CMC serves about 400 households from 50 zip codes around the area. Its hub is currently located in SE Portland near Powell Blvd and 33rd Place, and its primary satellite location is at SE 162nd & Stark.

About the Board of Directors

The Community Music Center, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that was formed in 1960 to support the music programs in Portland Parks & Recreation. PP&R currently provides staff, instructors, and the facility. Our non-profit has no employees and no real estate; it supports the program by providing financial subsidies, merit and need-based scholarships, musical instruments for students, and a music library. We are also recently considering ways to work with PP&R on the issue of its aging building that has expensive capital improvement needs.

Terms, Meetings, and Duties

Initial terms of service are up to 3 years, and may be renewed for additional 3-year terms. Meetings are currently the 2nd Monday evenings of each month, and are mostly virtual, with some in-person ones at CMC. Board members are required to annually donate to CMC Inc. at the Member level (currently $35) or above. Expectations are that the board members make CMC a top priority for charitable giving and advocacy, serve on at least one committee in addition to the board-at-large (committee meetings vary in number, but usually meet about 3 to 4 times a year), and attend regular monthly board meetings (missing no more than 3 board meetings a year).

Annual Meeting

The non-profit Community Music Center Inc. will hold its Annual Meeting on Friday, June 5 at 7:00 pm (followed by youth ensembles and soloists) in the David Beasley Campbell Recital Hall of the Community Music Center, 3350 SE Francis Street in Portland, Oregon, 97202. Agenda includes such business as shall legally come before the membership. A full agenda and minutes from prior year are posted at CMC by two weeks prior. Voting members of the non-profit are individuals who have donated at least $35 to CMC Inc. in the fiscal year, current students of CMC 18 years or older, and/or parents of youth students at CMC.

Workshop: Success in Lessons and Home Practice

Sat, 28 Mar 2026 00:05:00 GMT

Setting Up Students for Success in Music Lessons and Home Practice

New Team Member

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:34:54 GMT

CMC welcomes Trinh Youngman

Trinh Youngman is a guitarist, vocalist, bassist, songwriter, and bandleader with a Bachelor of Music in Classical Guitar Performance and a Master of Science in Music, both from Portland State University. He has taught at Portland Community College and

Ethos Music School, and he spent nearly a decade as a touring musician.

For PP&R, Trinh teaches guitar at CMC, ukulele at Grout SUN Community School, and both guitar and ukulele at Midland Library. Contact CMC to learn how to join one of his popular youth or adult classes.

Facility and Funding Updates

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:09:35 GMT

What's up with the Francis Street Firehouse and City funding for CMC?

Facility Update

CMC’s community was surprised last May by the sudden budget amendment from the City Council to close the Community Music Center, reportedly due to CMC's aging building. Luckily, that amendment was rescinded, thanks in large part to overwhelming community outcry. However, the incident brought into public debate the issue of PP&R’s facilities and the cost of keeping them viable.

The condition and viability of CMC’s building is actually a topic that PP&R and the CMC Inc. Board have been discussing for years. Two main issues have been articulated about our current home: the unreinforced masonry tower, and the facility’s overall size.

The Francis Street Firehouse, built in 1912, was converted for CMC’s use in 1969, then updated to the current seismic codes when it was renovated by PP&R in 1999, except for the original brick tower, which was left unreinforced due to cost. Since then, the price of

fixing the tower has only gone up, estimated now in the millions of dollars. A larger building for CMC to run more programs would potentially require fewer subsidies and be more financially secure.

The Francis Street location has been home for generations of musicians and audience members numbering in the tens of thousands, but it wasn’t the first CMC facility, and it hopefully won’t be the last.

With continued support from our community and leadership from the board and City, CMC will continue to have an appropriate facility as a community resource for all. If you’d like to be a part of the conversation, contact the CMC director at cmc@portlandoregon.gov or the CMC Inc. board president at board@communitymusiccenter.org.

Levy Update

The Community Music Center is funded by the nonprofit CMC Inc. through donations from individuals, companies and foundations, and by the City of Portland, in a blend of City General Fund allocations and Parks Local Option Levy dollars. So, we are happy to report that the 2025 Parks Levy passed in November, continuing an important revenue source for the next five years. Thank you to our community and Portlanders for their support of the Levy! For more information, see https://www.portland.gov/parks/parks-levy-2025 .

Alumni News 2025

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 00:00:29 GMT

Some of the many accomplished former CMC students

Let us know about other alumni news - past or present - by contacting cmc@portlandoregon.gov or 503-823-3177.

Portland music icon esperanza spalding , perhaps our most famous alum, came by to visit the Center in

August. See more in our blog post " VIP Visits ".

Bassoonist Midori Samson connected with her former CMC piano teacher, Zita Jefferson, last month to say, “Your music teaching still is with me every day.” Midori graduated from The Juilliard School, recently got a doctorate degree in music, and has a masters degree in social work. She’s been described as “A visionary bassoonist, educator, and social worker whose practice lives at the intersection of music, healing, and social justice.”

Back in February, Brandon Garbot (violin) joined the Geneva-based Aviv Quartet as its newest member. At CMC he was a violin student of Clarisse Atcherson and took many classes in orchestra, chamber music, and music skills. After CMC he went on to study at the Curtis Institute of Music with Ida Kavafian and Arnold Steinhardt, and obtained his master soloist degree with Rainer Schmidt at the Musik Akademie Basel.

Program Spotlight: Youth Choir

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 23:47:50 GMT

About our Youth Choir and Teen Vocal Ensemble

Our youth choirs are high energy activities for singers, and with no homework and no audition, they are great options for busy kids and families. They are led by experienced youth choir director Margaret Murer, who kids enjoy for her ‘serious fun’ approach to ensemble instruction. And as with all CMC activities, the youth choirs offer the PP&R Access Discount, which helps

families on a budget.

Meets: Weekly on Tuesday afternoons; youth age 8 – 13 at 4:30 PM, teens age 14 - 18 at 5:15 PM.

Instructor: Margaret Murer

What Parents Say:

“Margaret has great rapport with the students. She

balances expectations with humor.”

“She is an amazing music teacher…[my child’s] quick

progress and enthusiasm for the class is a direct

reflection of her high expectations and encouragement.

We feel so fortunate to have her as his teacher.”

How to Enroll: Registration is open now for Winter Term, which starts January 6th. Call CMC at 503-823-3177 or sign up online via

portland.gov/parks/register .

In Memoriam 2025

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 23:42:42 GMT

Remembering our departed community members

We give space here to list our community members who have passed away in 2025. See our website for links to articles and obituaries. If you know of others we should include in this list, please notify us and we’ll add it to this online version.

John Dickinson , CMC supporter.

Isaka Shamsud-Din , renowned painter and social justice and civil rights advocate, died at age 84. The mural that welcomes visitors

in CMC’s lobby was painted by him in 2002, commissioned by the CMC Inc. Board of Directors. The work features likenesses some of his children who attended CMC, including JeNisa Reed (violin), one of our first Dorothea Lensch Award recipients. ee also: https://www.orartswatch.org/isaka-shamsud-din-portlands-voice-of-determined-joy/

Bonnie Garrett , CMC’s harpsichord instructor in the twenty-teens, taught piano and harpsichord at Reed College for nearly four decades. As harpsichordist, Bonnie performed with Portland Baroque Orchestra, Oregon Bach Festival, the Oregon Symphony, and with numerous other groups & festivals.

Marcia Marvin , CMC supporter.

We lost two long-time CMC supporters who were also grandparents of CMC students/alumni: Janice Van Dyke (Liam and Fiona Dubay), and Grey Wolfe (Blaire Wolfe-Rocca).

Thank you!

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 02:37:31 GMT

The Community Music Center gratefully thanks our donors and volunteers for helping us create harmony in our community!

Listed here are gifts to the Annual Fund of $35 or more from November 2024 through October 2025.

To make a contribution to our current fund drive use the "donate" button on this page.

Baton Circle Platinum ($10,000+)

Ralph & Sally Bolliger Trust

Owen Kelley - to the Anthony Earl Dyer Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation in memory of "My Uncle Anthony, a loving person who found joy in teaching aspiring musicians"

Patricia L. Shannon

Dorothea M. Lensch Fund of Oregon Community Foundation

Baton Circle Gold ($5,000+)

Ned & Sarah Holbrook with employer match

Michael Pullen & Ellen Pullen Trust

Baton Circle Silver ($1,960+)

Gary & Sahni Denton - in memory of Charles Farmer

Gregory & Maggie Englund - for the Shirley Englund Fund for Music Scholarships

Starr Thomas Family Foundation

Maestro ($1,000+)

Anonymous (2)

Anonymous - via ImpactAssets Inc.

Michael Chandler

Darryl Conser

Dobbins Family Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

John Englund - to the Shirley Englund Music Scholarship Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

Penny & Marvin Harrison

Elizabeth Joseph

Marley Brown Lumber Service

Anne K. Millis fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

The Monday Musical Club

Dennis Scollard & Bill Byrne - with employer match

Jason Shipley - in memory of “the beautiful Shirley Englund and her pupil Jonathan Sullivan-Shipley with appreciation of his parents, Jason
and Annie”

Anne-Marie Sullivan - in honor of Inga Dubay

Julie Lou Tripp - in memory of Mary Margaret Dundore

Virtuoso ($500+)

Anonymous (2)

Catherine Battilega

Community Music Workshop & David Studhalter

Joshua Filner - in memory of Anthony Dyer, to the Anthony Early Dyer Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

Mr. Micheal W. Hanna & Ms. Mary Ruth Hanna - in memory of Margot Parlette, violin teacher
at CMC

Mary Mears-Haskell and Ted Haskell

Penny Hook

David & Virginia Kingsbury Donor Fund

The Knight Family Fund

Mary E. Labadie

Carol LaBrie

Charles A. LeGuin

Neher Family Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

Nelson Family Partnership - in honor of Eva Colas

Stan & Linda Niman

Carol E Ratzlaf - in memory of Stevie McDougal

Barbara Rhyne

Laura Schlafly

Alberta Schroeder

Martin Smilkstein & Angela Kalisiak

Kaarin & Van Smith - to the Anthony Earl Dyer Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation,
in his memory

Frances N.D. Stearns

Barbara & Jon Stroud

Jonathan Tamez & Keith Walters - in memory of
Joe Dubay

Melinda B. Wilde

Jemima KCR Zacharia - in honor of Cynthia Scott

Rhapsody ($250+)

Helen Babbitt

Catherine (Pavlakovich) Battilega

Lauren Brown

Stuart Brown

Barbara Caldwell - in memory of Ernestine Oringdulph and Dorothy Fahlman

Wei Qiao Chen

Cofsky Hopkins Charitable Fund - via Schwab Charitable

Sarah Dinger

Lourdene Haley DiPalco

Angela Wong Fazio - in memory of Allen Wong

Linda Besant & Martha Goetsch

Carrie Gotkowitz - via Schwab Charitable

Michael & Patricia Greenfield

Naomi and Peter Hand - via Schwab Charitable

M. Hirsch

Susan Karant-Nunn - in honor of Carol Ratzlaf

Kristan Knapp

Felicia Lauritsen - via the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest Community Giving Campaign

Paige Sipes-Metzler

Margaret Moore

Holly Newlands

Colleen O'Brien & Doug Peters

June Reznikoff & David Simon

Barbara Rhyne

Ken Saul

Aiona Gift Fund - via Fidelity Charitable

Holly Stern - in memory of Joe Dubay

Jonathan Tamez & Keith Walters

Carl & JoAnn von Rohr

Grey Wolfe

David Jonathan Zook

Prelude ($100+)

Maria Agoston

John & Tanja Alger - in honor of Nicholas Wheeler

Nan & Greg Anderson - with employer match

Heather Bacon-Shone

Viktors Berstis

Jacquelyn Boardman

Aron Borok

Daniel A. Brown & Helen Jaskoski

Jann Brown

Barbara Caldwell - in memory of Ernestine Oringdulph

Maurine Canarsky

Cynthia Ann Canfield

Tom Clegg - in memory of Jeanne Clegg

Jody Coale

Community Music Workshop

Peter Cowal

Cynthia Cristofani

Cassidy Cruz

Geri Cullers

Rod & Doris Diman

Inga Dubay - in honor of Gregory Dubay

Gregory duFour

Anne Dujmovic

Judy Evans

Angela Wong Fazio

Virginia & George Feldman - in honor of Everett Feldman-Wang

Aaron Faucher - in memory of Leonard Faucher, "who shared his passion for music with the next generation"

Elisa Firth - with employer match

Eric Foxman

Page S. Frisch

Suzanne Gaye

Barbara Getty - in memory of Vera M. Miller, mother and violinist

Mark Gilbert - in honor of Ramzi Humsi Wing

Marian Gold - in memory of Charles and Helen Henry

Carrie Gotkowitz - via DAFgiving360

Patricia & Michael Greenfield

Judy Hadley

Tim Hahn

Tom & Wendy Hart

Jeremy Hays

Randall Hobson - in memory of Shirley Englund & Naomi Blumberg

Diane Hodgman – with employer match, in memory of Sully

Laura Hunt

Daniel Hoyt - in honor of JLC, violinist

Felicia Lauritsen - via employee giving campaign

Kevin Lefohn

Leatherman-Gerber Giving Fund

Mary L Vander Linden

Jerome Magill

Elizabeth Menashe

Chau & Gent Mende

Hilarie Miller

Kirk Miller

Alejandra Isidra Cuesta Monrroy

Madeline Moore

Carol Morgan

Ute Munger

Patty Nelson

Lucille Pierce

Judith Potts

Glendon Pullen & Diane Rynerson

Mary Rose

Elizabeth Ramsey & Donald Ruff

Jeremy Sarant

Carole Shellhart - in honor of Cynthia Scott

Monica Setziol-Phillips & James Phillips - in memory of Luise Grube

Harlan Shober

Scott & Laura Simon

Paige Sipesmetzler

James Sjulin

Arlette Slachmuylder

Steven Smith - in memory of Charles Farmer

Olivia Smith

David B. Socolofsky - in memory of Naomi Blumberg

Judith Solanki

Jack Spadaro - in memory of Joel Nurmi

Mary Lane Stevens Charitable Fund

Peter & Martha Stiven

Sid & Ann Stuller - in memory of Patricia Mittelstadt and Wilma Sheridan

Thomas Sumner - in memory of Anthony Dyer, to the Anthony Earl Dyer Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

Carole Turcotte

Richard Varan & Nina Lee

Nancy P. Walsh - in memory of Charles Farmer

Sara Watts

Welsh Family Fund - via Fidelity Charitable

Jemima KCR Zacharia - in honor of Andrew Ehrlich

John & Pat Zagelow

Member ($35+)

Jezer Ajinga

Anonymous (1)

Michael Clarke

Kathleen Clarkson

Robin Cook

Cooper Family Foundation

Michelle Druce

Laura Frizzell - in honor of Shera Sinell

Fred & Amelia Hard

Susan Hathaway-Marxer & Larry Marxer - in Memory of Lisa Thomas Turpel

Lynda Hess

Gary Hewitt

Jennifer Houston

Karen Kennedy

Mike Kies

Tayler Kim

Deborah Kogan

Felicia Lauritsen - with employer match

Daniel E. Reyes Llinás

David M. Luboff

Patricia Luckeroth

Jim Maddry

Edward Mann

James Mooney

Fred Nussbaum

Steve O'Neill

Stephan Page

David Parker - via Network for Good

Sheila Pastore

Audrey Perino

Emma Pickett

Kathleen Robinson

Linda Robinson

Michael Sestric & Miriam Levitt

Gail Sherman - in honor of Andrew Ehrlich

Laurie Simmons

Kroger Stores - via Fred Meyer Frequent Shopper Rewards Program

Shawn Van Dyke - in honor of Janice I Van Dyke and Jonathan Dubay

Connie Whelan

Karen Wutzke

Significant in-kind support

Portland Internet Works, David Kerr Violin Shop,

Steve Banchero, Steve Davis Piano Solutions, and Connie Johnson

If we have made an error in this list, please accept our apologies, and kindly let us know how we can correct it.

CMC eNews for Fall

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 20:19:11 GMT

News, classes, and more!

Drop-In and Play

CMC is partnering with the Multnomah County Library to provide free individual instrument lessons at local branches, no registration required. Come by, sign up, and try it!

Kenton Library - Violin - Thursdays 3:30 - 5:30 pm
Midland Library - Guitar & Ukulele - Fridays 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Funding Update

The Portland City Council has referred a Local Option Levy to Portland voters for the November ballot.

Read about the current and proposed Parks levies:

Looking Ahead

September 28 : Fall Begins
December 11 : Winter classes available for registration*
January 5 : Winter Term Begins

*PP&R is saving trees by moving all activity guides to online only. See www.portland.gov/parks/register for more information.

VIP Visits

Wed, 24 Sep 2025 22:38:49 GMT

Some Big Names stopped by the Center this summer

In August 2025 the Community Music Center was visited by two Portland City Councilors and a Grammy-Award Winning CMC Alum!

Students of Note 2025

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 21:10:16 GMT

CMC celebrates its students with awards and honors

The Community Music Center Board, Staff, & Faculty are proud of all who study music at CMC, and we wish to honor the note-worthy students below, praised by their teachers for their achievements. Congratulations!

DIRECTOR'S LIST

Goodness Adesida, Kelcee Ajinga, Kai Ajinga, Isamu Akasaka Leinoff, Valeria Almanza, Oscar Baldivieso, Olivia Balicanta, Nandi Banks-Cuesta, Hana Bausmann, Maya Beleck, Bristol Blaske, Eva Blodgett, Isabel Blodgett, Nathaniel Bock, Anastasia Bock, Genevieve Bock, Lucy Burrill, Seyi Carven, Delfina Cavanaugh, Kasey Chan, Brandon Chen, Kane Chen, Flora Chen, Annie Chen, Willow Cheskin, Zigo Diprofio, Eva Feldman, Everett Feldman-Wang, Seth Filner, Norah Filner, Maya Flores, Luciana Furstner, Zoey Gallagher, Grant Hoffman, Soren Holbrook, Willa Hook, Genevieve Huth, Melinda Jones, Harper Kabza, Evelyn Kartini, Kaleb Kidney, Andrew Kobus, Ryan Le, Sophia Leung, Naomi Liao, Lia Lyaskoronskiy, Elza Lysenko, Connie Ma, Sophia McGary, Amalia Medina, Jin Nakajima, Mercy Oswald, Phoebe Oswald, Astrid Perez, Enzo Ramnane, Yoshi Rapp, Isa Rapp, Michael Sayles, Asa Smith, Jonathan Tang, Alvin Ton, Rosalia Valderrama, Sam Van Clock, Brodie Van Clock, Charlie Vanderburg, Renardo Varela, Ada Wang, Matt Wang, Lukas Ward, Frederica "E.D." Wolff, Zifei Wu, Hanwei Zhang, Joanna Zhen, Leo Ziegler, Violet Ziegler.

GRADUATES

Magnolia Cavanaugh, Casey Chan, Seth Filner, Andrew Kobus, Andrew Tran, Lukas Ward.

Read the impressive biographies of our high school graduates on a separate blog post.

CMC eNotes for Summer

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 20:56:23 GMT

Classes, events, and other news for June through August

Budget Update

In May there was a City budget amendment to close CMC, but it was rescinded before it could be voted upon by the City Council. Thank you to all who provided your thoughts about the budget to the Council!

In June the Portland City Council adopted the 2025-26 budget which keeps our Center operating at the same level as in 2024-25. For 2025-26 and beyond, the Council referred a Parks Levy renewal measure to the voters for the November ballot. See PP&R's website for more on the Levy - past and future:

Looking Ahead

Summer is in full swing, and we are gearing up for the fall term and the coming school year.

August 21 : Classes available to view online*
September 11 : Classes available for registration
September 28 : Fall Term Begins

*PP&R is saving trees by moving all activity guides to online only. (Activities for age 60+ and for Adaptive Recreation will still be published in paper as well as online.) See www.portland.gov/parks/register for more information.

Admin Support Sought
The non-profit Community Music Center Inc. seeks an experienced independent contractor to serve as administrative assistant to our all-volunteer board of directors. See more information and apply by August 15 if interested.

Call to Action Succeeds! (updated)

Tue, 20 May 2025 20:33:41 GMT

Tell Portland City Council: "Don't Cut CMC!"

Update for May 30, 2025

Several news sites have reported that Councilor Novick will be withdrawing the amendment to close CMC and MAC. Thank you, everyone, for your support!

Update as of 8 pm on Wednesday, May 21:

In the city council meeting today Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney cut short testimony after 2 hours. If you signed up to testify and were not able to, you are encouraged to submit a written version of what you were going to say either directly to the council testimony (link # 3 below) before the end of the day Wednesday May 21 or via the City Budget link below (link #1 below), or directly to your representative (link #2 below).

Thank you to the dozen people who bravely testified in person and virtually, and those who waited patiently to do so without getting the opportunity. Thank also to the many others who have provided written testimony, and to the protesters and music students who showed up with signs and instruments at City Hall on Wednesday!

Submit written comment about the budget
Contact your City of Portland elected representatives
Submit written testimony about the budget committee agenda before end of day May 21, 2025

See the KGW news story

See the Willamette Week news story

See the OPB news story

------------------------

URGENT CALL TO ACTION!

Dear CMC Supporters -

We need your help - right away! Late last week councilor Steve Novick submitted an amendment in the City's budget process to permanently close down the Community Music Center as of September 1 of this year .

We need you to tell the council by their next meeting: "VOTE 'NO' ON AMMENDMENT #45 - DON'T CUT THE COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER!" The Portland City Council meets to vote on the amendments on Wednesday, May 21, so please act now !

Please do one or more of these:

Submit written testimony about the budget (easiest, less effective)
Contact your City of Portland elected representatives (also easy and more effective)
Sign up to testify virtually or in person (best and most effective). Also contact me at board@communitymusiccenter.org to let me know. It is agenda item #16 with time certain of 11:45 am.

Tell them:

What district you are in (see link below to learn more),
What CMC means to you and your community, and
That you want CMC to stay open.

Link: City council districts and their elected representatives

As you might know, the Community Music Center:

Serves hundreds of families and households in over 50 zip codes throughout Portland, in every Council District,
Has programs for all ages from kindergarten to seniors,
Makes classes and lessons affordable, with up to 100% discount for low-income participants,
Supports programs specifically serving Black & Brown youth, Latinx youth, LGBTQ+ youth, seniors, immigrants, and people with disabilities,
Gives dozens of free, drop-in concerts a year, with livestream options for those who can't travel to CMC,
Partners with organizations for programs in underserved areas in outer East Portland,
Provides alternative to sports for youth afterschool activities,
Contributes to the musical and economic vitality of Portland,
Relies on City general fund and Parks Levy dollars to operate, with additional significant program support from the non-profit CMC Inc.,
Administers its programs with only 3 full-time a few part-time staff,
Hires over 25 part-time performing artist-instructors from the community to provide about 8,000 hours of classes, lessons, and events per year,
Is actively working with PP&R management and community groups to ensure its long-term facility needs.

Please contact me if you have any questions: board@communitymusiccennter.org . Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

-Judy Oringdulph Rompa, CMC President

Community Music Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization in partnership with Portland Parks & Recreation.

Honoring CMC Faculty

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:21:33 GMT

Meet our illustrious CMC instructors

The Community Music Center is pleased to celebrate our performing artists faculty who have been with CMC for 25 years or more. There will be a special event honoring them on Saturday, May 3 . Learn more and make reservations .

Contact us if you would like to share a story, anecdote, photo, or testimonial about one or more of our honored instructors!

“Phil and Gayle Neuman are national treasures.” – CMC Student

70 years of music education

Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:18:59 GMT

CMC celebrates seven decades in Portland

70th Anniversary Event

There will be a very special concert commemorating seven decades of music education on Saturday, May . Learn more and make reservations .

CMC History

When PP&R opened the Community Music Center in 1955, it was the bureau’s first program dedicated to affordable music classes. Since then, tens of thousands of students of all ages have attended music-learning activities at sites throughout Portland’s park and recreation system, helping to create the vibrant music scene we appreciate today in Portland.

“Today we think of the arts and recreation going hand in hand,” says Community Music Center Director Gregory Dubay. “But in 1955 it was new and experimental for a parks and recreation department to have music classes.”

Dorothea Lensch, who served as PP&R’s first Recreation Director and was the visionary force behind the instruction of arts and music classes in PP&R facilities, famously remarked, “Recreation is more than balls and bats.” Together with site director Robert Crowley at the Knott Street Community Center (now the Matt Dishman Community Center), they created what became Community Music Center.

The first program on Knott Street was a dozen weekly activities for adults, including choir, orchestra, folk music, and recorder — each for the price of one dollar per term. After a few years, the program moved to its own site in Southeast Portland, and youth activities focusing on musicianship and stringed instruments were added. This blend of activities for all ages continues today at the Community Music Center.

In addition, music classes and lessons flourish at PP&R sites across the city, from the Multnomah Arts Center to community centers and many PP&R SUN (Schools Uniting Neighborhoods) Community Schools.

A Timeline

1955 - Music programs begin at the Knott Street Community Center (now named Matt Dishman Community Center) under program director Robert Crowley and Recreation Director Dorothea Lensch.

1957 - The program expands and moves to SE Woodstock (now the Woodstock Community Center). Isadore Tinkleman is hired to develop the youth programs, later becoming the program director.

1960 - The nonprofit Community Music Center is established to support PP&R programs.

1969 - The program expands again and moves to SE Francis Street (its current location), into a decommissioned fire house that was renovated for CMC use. Philip Murthe succeeded Isadore Tinkleman as director in 1972. Charles Farmer became director in 1982 and developed CMC’s national presence through membership in the National Guild for Community Arts Education.

1999 - CMC’s building is renovated with seismic retrofits (except for the tower), ADA accommodations such as elevators to the stage and second floor, and ramp entrance to the building.

2002 - Gregory Dubay becomes director. Programs expand under partnerships with SUN Community Schools and other organizations. The 50th anniversary was celebrated in 2005 with multiple events, including an “Instruments of Art” show and auction involving artists creating 50 works from used musical instruments.

2015 - CMC’s nonprofit publishes “Community Music Center, the First 60 Years – a Musical History” in commemoration of the 60th anniversary. This book is on sale at CommunityMusicCenter.org. The anniversary was celebrated with multi-venue event at Reed College featuring CMC faculty and student performers.

2020 - During the pandemic CMC was the first official site in PP&R to offer online classes and lessons. In summer 2021 CMC activities - including chamber music, community orchestra and community chorus - met in person outside at Kenilworth Park. From that fall activities returned to the Francis Street building with some online activities continuing. CMC still livestreams its recitals and concerts for those who can't attend in person.

Today the Community Music Center continues to serve underserved communities in Portland through its core programming and through partnerships. At its Francis Street location, CMC welcomes hundreds of youth and adults in weekly lessons and classes, presents and livestreams dozens of free & drop-in concerts and events each year, and hosts community groups including a Samba drum program, and Ukrainian, Latinx and LBGTQ+ choirs. In outer East Portland, CMC is partnering with the Center Powered by Y.O.U.th ( youthpdx.org ), Alice Ott Middle School SUN Community School, and the Multnomah County Library to provide music programs specialized for the community.

Photo: First CMC Director Robert Crowley conducting the community string orchestra in about 1963. In the picture, playing 1st chair violin, is future CMC Director Isadore Tinkleman.

More information on the 70th Anniversary and Faculty Celebration event on May 3.

DeAndre Simmons in Concert

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 23:16:53 GMT

Acclaimed soloist performs for the community in free concerts

Join us for an unforgettable evening as bass DeAndre Simmons presents a powerful recital of traditional spirituals, songs and arias by African American composers. Admission is free (registration requested - see below).

With his rich, resonant voice, DeAndre will bring to life these soulful and deeply moving pieces, showcasing the beauty and emotional depth of the African-American contribution to the wide tapestry of American music and culture.

Don’t miss this opportunity to experience a captivating performance that celebrates history, heritage, and the enduring power of music, made possible by Opera In the Park Portland , The Community Music Center, Inc. (non-profit), Portland Parks & Recreation , and the Center Powered by YOUth .

February 1st, 2025 - 6pm (full program with reception) - The Center Powered by Y.O.U.T.H. 16126 SE Stark St., Portland OR 97233.

February 4th, 2025 - 5pm (30-minute program) - The Community Music Center 3350 SE Francis St., Portland OR 97202

Click on each date above to register for each.

Children age 10 and up are welcome to attend (registration requested).

The Artists

Called a "class act" by the Los Angeles Times, American bass DeAndre Simmons is recognized for his velvety voice, incisive musicianship, and captivating stage presence. He has appeared on musical theater, operatic, symphonic, and recital stages in all 50 states and across four continents. His most recent portrayal of Sweeney Todd in Sondheim’s masterpiece SWEENEY TODD was voted Top Ten Best Theatre Performances in San Diego. Upcoming performances include the Count in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, First Soldier in SALOME and Porgy in PORGY AND BESS. Career highlights include performing Mozart's Requiem in the presence of Pope John Paul II, being one of only 10 musicians invited to participate in a concert for Nelson Mandela, and singing for seven US Presidents — from Richard Nixon to Barack Obama. https://www.deandresimmons.com/ (instagram @DeAndresVoice)

DeAndre will be joined by Portland-based pianist and vocal coach, Claire Forstman. Claire is currently in her second year as a member of the Resident Artist studio at Portland Opera. In the ’24-’25 season, she will be the principal pianist for the company’s production of FALSTAFF, play orchestral keyboards for Paul Moravec’s THE SHINING, and lead the studio’s scenes program and aria showcase as Music Director. Last season, she served as a repetiteur for Renegade Opera’s workshop of the revue-style AMERICAN PATRIOTS and Opera Bend’s production of LA TRAVIATA, as well as being a regular collaborator with the Portland Symphonic Chorus and an accompanist for OPERA IN THE PARK Portland and Portland’s Opera on Tap. https://claireforstman.com/

Practice Tips Webinar

Thu, 09 Jan 2025 15:22:46 GMT

Attend this special event to help you make the time between lessons more fun, creative, and effective

CMC Music Practice Tips Webinar

Are you a musician or music student who struggles with practicing your instrument or who wants some new ways to ways to think about how to practice?

Join us at 4:00 pm (Pacific Time) on Saturday, January 11, 2025 for a webinar on this important topic so you can get more out of your home practice session and make it a more fun, creative and effective use of time.

This webinar is free and will be recorded. Those viewing live at 4 pm Saturday January 11 have the opportunity to ask questions to the presenter.

The webinar has concluded. Link to view recording: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/AgSJ-rmqhAjDKfEcolZK4lLpzUkghpgKcv3xd7dzv9PLi0I7Ha6z5K-8cs8NAIbW.oSo97W3uyQSKJiI_

Suggested for music students age 10 and up and parents of students any age.

About the Presenter

Akseli Mende is a CMC alumnus and current music student at St. Olaf College. He attended the acclaimed Magic Mountain Music program last summer and CMC asked him to share some things he learned there with the CMC community.

eNotes for Winter 2025

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 23:32:14 GMT

Classes, events, and other news from CMC

Winter Term

Classes and lessons resume the week of January 6 . A few spots are still open in activities including:

Music, Beats & Sounds (youth) - electronic music production, instruments, and more! Meets at SE 162nd & Stark.
Drum World (youth) - call us at 503-823-3177 to join this class in progress.
Note Reading Skill Builder (adults)

Get up to 90% off course fees with PP&R's Access Discount program. See our full activity listing online .

Save the Date!
Put our spring celebration event on your calendar

We are commemorating 70 years of music education at Portland Parks & Recreation's Community Music Center with a special benefit concert in CMC's auditorium on Saturday afternoon, May 3, 2025 at 2:00 pm .

The program will also celebrate our wonderful performing artist-instructors, especially those who have taught at CMC for 25 to 30 years, including Hong Chou, Tracey Edson, Andrew Ehrlich, Zita Jefferson, and Cynthia Scott.

Mark your calendars, and stay tuned for more details in the coming months!

FredMeyer Rewards and CMC

Did you know that through your FredMeyer Rewards account you can request Kroger Stores to donate money to CMC? It is easy and there is no cost to you. See their website for more information and sign up today!

In Memoriam
At the end of 2024 we remember those in our community we lost. See our blog post for the most updated list.

In Memoriam

Tue, 31 Dec 2024 21:05:18 GMT

A time to remember those in the CMC community we lost in 2024

Josephine Pope passed away in October. She was an avid volunteer with PP&R and CMC (serving on CMC Inc.'s board), as well as a CMC grandparent.

Ellen Pullen was on the CMC Board, and also volunteered for the Oregon Symphony. She had worked as a licensed tax preparer, often pro bono for low-income clients.

Dr. Wilma Sheridan , was Dean of Porltand State University's School of Fine and Performing Arts and was a CMC Board member. The family has suggested charities such as CMC for remembrances.

Shannon Wick was a CMC alum (student of Micheal Foxman) and also a PYP alum. She was a talented singer as well as violinist. We are grateful to the family for suggesting CMC as a recipient of remembrances.

We have been updating this list from what was originally published in the printed CMC Note and in our eNotes. If you have a name of someone related to CMC you'd like us to include on this list, please email or call Gregory Dubay at gregory.dubay@portlandoregon.gov or 503-894-0661.

Dyer Fund Awardee

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 01:19:00 GMT

CMC Awardee Profile

Dyer Memorial Award
Thanks to generous donations from family and friends of the late Anthony Earl Dyer, an award fund has been established in his memory for CMC at the Oregon Community Foundation.

Meet the New Team Members

Fri, 27 Dec 2024 00:06:14 GMT

Welcome to our new staff, teachers and board members

Rhea Hertafeld is a violist with Bachelor’s degree in music and Master’s degree in music teaching from Oberlin College Conservatory of Music. Rhea will be teaching at Alice Ott in the SUN Community School after-school program.

Partners in Harmony

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 23:40:02 GMT

CMC's Musical Collaboration in East Portland

This past summer the Community Music Center collaborated with a variety of partners to produce collaborative music day-camps for youth and teens in outer East Portland at the Center Powered by Y.O.U.th, a grass-roots organization providing programs for black, brown, and indigenous youth (www.youthpdx.org).

Twenty-seven ‘music campers’ registered (with up to 100% need-based discount) to receive a two-week, full-day immersive experience in music making with computers and instruments, producing finished compositions in the form of audio files. Listen to the amazing creativity of these young new musical artists.

CMC contracted EXT. 606, a black-owned and operated recording and audio production enterprise, to provide instructors and additional resources for the camps. Guest artists who were presented included The Argonots (vocal quartet), Machado Mijiga, and Alex Meltzer (percussionist and DJ).

Thank you!

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 01:50:05 GMT

The Community Music Center gratefully thanks our donors and volunteers for helping us create harmony in our community!

Listed here are gifts to the Annual Fund of $35 or more from November 2023 through October 2024.

To make a contribution to our current fund drive use the "donate" button on this page.

Baton Circle Platinum ($10,000+)

Cheryle & Scott Kelley - to the Anthony Earl Dyer Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation, in memory of Anthony Dyer

Dorothea M. Lensch Fund of Oregon Community Foundation

Baton Circle Gold ($5,000+)

Anonymous - in memory of Marvel Gillespie

Anonymous - via the American Endowment Fund

Ned & Sarah Holbrook with employer match - via American Online Giving Foundation

Baton Circle Silver ($1,960+)

Gary and Sahni Denton - in memory of Charles Farmer

Gregory & Maggie Englund - for the Shirley Englund Fund for Music Scholarships

Anne K. Millis Fund of Oregon Community Foundation

Katherine Schroeder & Tom Gustafson

Maestro ($1,000+)

Anonymous - via The U.S. Charitable Gift Trust

Marley Brown Lumber Service

C. Byrne - with employer match, via American Online Giving Fund

Darryl Conser

John Englund - to the Shirley Englund Music Scholarship Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

The Monday Musical Club

Neher Family Fund of the Oregon Community Foundation

Amy O'Neill

Eileen K. Ota

Julie Tripp

Lawrence Zivin

Virtuoso ($500+)

Michael & Nadia Chandler

Darryl G. Conser

Allen L. Dobbins

Marvin & Penny Harrison

William T. Haskell

David & Virginia Kingsbury - via Schwab Charitable

The Knight Family Fund

Susan Koe - via Fidelity Charitable

Mary E. Labadie

Carol LaBrie

Mary McConnell

Helle Nathan & Family - in memory of Dorothy Fahlman

Stan & Linda Niman

Ellen Pullen

Joe Rakoski

Carol E. Ratzlaf - in memory of Stevie McDougal

Mike Rompa & Judy Oringdulph Rompa

Anna Sasaki

Laura Schlafly - via Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund

James & Judy Seubert

JC Smith and Alex Privee - with employer match via American Online Giving Fund

Frances N.D. Stearns

David Studhalter & the Community Music Workshop

Rhapsody ($250+)

Helen Babbitt

Catherine (Pavlakovich) Battilega

Lauren Brown

Stuart Brown

Barbara Caldwell - in memory of Ernestine Oringdulph and Dorothy Fahlman

Wei Qiao Chen

Cofsky Hopkins Charitable Fund - via Schwab Charitable

Sarah Dinger

Lourdene Haley DiPalco

Angela Wong Fazio - in memory of Allen Wong

Linda Besant & Martha Goetsch

Carrie Gotkowitz - via Schwab Charitable

Michael & Patricia Greenfield

Naomi and Peter Hand - via Schwab Charitable

M. Hirsch

Susan Karant-Nunn - in honor of Carol Ratzlaf

Kristan Knapp

Felicia Lauritsen - via the Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Northwest Community Giving Campaign

Paige Sipes-Metzler

Margaret Moore

Holly Newlands

Colleen O'Brien & Doug Peters

June Reznikoff & David Simon

Barbara Rhyne

Ken Saul

Aiona Gift Fund - via Fidelity Charitable

Holly Stern - in memory of Joe Dubay

Jonathan Tamez & Keith Walters

Carl & JoAnn von Rohr

Grey Wolfe

David Jonathan Zook

Prelude ($100+)

Maria Agoston

John & Tanja Alger - in honor of Nicholas Wheeler

Maurine and Paul Canarsky

Anonymous - via American Online Giving Fund

Barbara Bach

John Barker

Sylvia Gray & Victors Berstis

Paul Blankenmeister - in memory of Shelley Mueller

Jacquelyn Boardman

Jerry Bobbe

Susan Ann Brickey

Cheryl Campbell

Chauncey Canfield

Cynthia Ann Canfield

Robin Cook

Peter Cowal

Cynthia Cristofani

Alexa Dellinger

Walter Derlacki

Jon Dickinson & Marlene Burns

Joseph & Inga Dubay - in honor of Gregory Dubay

Anne Dujmovic

Alan Ely

Judyanne Evans

Aron Faegre

Virginia M. Feldman

Page Frisch

Williamson & Edith Fuller

Suzanne Gaye

Barbara Getty - in memory of Vera M. Miller

Gay Greger & Jim Sjulin

Charles Le Guin

Judith Hadley

Fred & Amelia Hard

Tom & Wendy Hart

David Hattner and Kristie Leiser

Diane Hodgman - in memory of Edward Almeida, with employer match from The Standard via the Blackbaud Giving Fund

Laura Hunt

Olivia Jou

Meg Larson

Kevin & Milyn Lefohn

Mary L. Vander Linden

Janet Loewen

Edward Mann

Rhonda Mazza

Brian McDonald

Alice McKee - with employer match via American Online Giving Fund

Norberto Medina

Elizabeth Menashe

Chau Phan Mende

Kirk & Cathy Miller

Monica Monroe

Madeline B. Moore

Ute Munger

Patty Nelson

Jerry and Lisa Newman Eckstein - in memory of David S. Newman to the fund in his name

Bill Ofstad

Sheila Pastore - via Fidelity Charitable

Lucille Pierce

Glendon Pullen & S. Diane Rynerson

Elizabeth Ramsey & Donald Ruff

Gregg Ritchie - in memory of Steve Ritchie

Rose City Singers

Jeremy Sarant

Alberta Schroeder

John Schumann

Mary Louise Sevetson

Carole Shellhart - in honor of Cynthia Scott

Heather Bacon-Shone

Richard Silverman

Laurie Simmons

Scott & Laura Simon

Arlette Slachmuylder

Steven H. Smith

Jack Spadaro - in memory of Joel Nurmi

David Spencer - employee gift and employer match via Blackbaud Giving Fund

Mary Lane Stevens

Deb Stoner Charitable Fund - via Fidelity Charitable

Barbara Stroud

Sid and Ann Stuller - in memory of Patricia S. Mittelstadt

Carole Turcotte

Richard Varan & Nina Lee

Kevin Votava & employer match - via American Online Giving Foundation

Nancy P. Walsh

Welsch Family Fund - via Fidelity Charitable

Hope Whitney

Melinda B. Wilde

Constance Wiseman

Ursula Wolfe-Rocca

John & Pat Zagalow

Member ($35+)

Anonymous - via United Way of the Columbia-Willamette

Jann Brown

Karina Bruzzese - in honor of Patrick and Sophia

Alice Burkleaux

Kathleen Clarkson

Kirsten Comish

Cooper Family Foundation - via Fidelity Charitable

James Dana

Doris Ann Diman

Gregory duFour

Bryan Eichhorn

George Eighmey

Helen Firth - via American Online Giving Fund

Kay Fujita

Mr. Gary L. Hewitt

Maia Gay

Network for Good

Jere M. Grimm

Timothy Hahn

C. Scott Kennedy

Kroger Stores - via Fred Meyer Frequent Shopper Rewards Program

Sarah Lapham

Miriam Levitt

Brenda Liu - in honor of Anthony Dyer

Michael Walsh - via City of Portland employee giving program through United Way of the Columbia-Willamette

James Mooney

Wm. Neidhardt

Hien Nguyen

Fred Nussbaum

Audrey Perino

Emma Pickett

Susan B. Poulsen

Rachel Henrichs - via Geffen Mescher & Co. employee giving program through United Way of the Columbia-Willamette

K. C. Schneider

Monica Setziol-Phillips and J.P. Phillips

Marilyn & Robert Shotola

Kayla C. Vaughn & William C. Lemaster

Sara Watts

Connie Whelan

Sui Wu Zhen

Significant in-kind support

Portland Internet Works, David Kerr Violin Shop,

Steve Banchero, Steve Davis Piano Solutions

If we have made an error in this list, please accept our apologies, and kindly let us know how we can correct it.

Awards & Honors 2024

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 01:13:09 GMT

Meet the CMC graduates and award winners for 2024

As the school year concludes, we celebrate the musicianship of all the CMC students, and highlight those who have made special achievements, including graduating from high school. The Community Music Center is proud of our students who have accomplished so much in music! Bravo!

CLASS OF 2024

Alvin Chan started at CMC in 2012 with group piano class taught by Zita Jefferson and later moved into individual lessons with Zita. Alvin is passionate about youth civics, working in that space since 2018. He was Co-Chair of Multnomah Youth Commission, the official youth policy body for Portland & Multnomah County, in 2021-23, and is graduating from Cleveland High School with an International Baccalaureate Diploma. Alvin will be going to Princeton University this fall to study Political Science.

Ouen Leip is a piano student of Zita Jefferson and learned digital music production from Rory Cowal. After graduating from Lincoln High School he plans to study Chemical Engineering at Oregon State, and is looking forward to internships and personal achievement through projects and creative spaces at school. Ouen enjoys volleyball and fencing, loves math, chemistry, biology, anthropology, making stuff and fixing things. “I loved my time at CMC - it allowed me to enjoy music as a hobby not a task, unlike previous experiences. Teacher Zita was the best, and Rory helped me get into audio engineering…a lot of inspiring people at CMC.”

Alvin Ton started violin in the David Douglas school system and studied for 2 years at CMC with Isabel Dammann. He’s been volunteering at the library and enjoying soccer and swimming, too. Alvin graduates from David Douglas High School and goes on to Oregon State University to study engineering.

Yocelin Rosales graduates from David Douglas High School as a violist in their award-winning symphonic string orchestra (two-time 3rd place champion in state competition two-time 1st place champion for Mount Hood conference string competition). She started viola lessons in 2018 at CMC’s Rosewood Initiative program with teacher Anastasiya Gavrilovich, and later came to CMC’s Francis Street location studying with Hong Chou. Yoci enjoys cooking for my family and friends and is one of the leaders in the culinary program at her school. She also loves playing Badminton and competing with friends and family. She will be attending Portland community college to major in child development while planning on expanding her sister’s daycare.

Merit Awards (scroll down to read all names)

Director's List (scroll down to see all names)

About the Awards

All awardees are nominated by their instructors. Director’s List students are youth who’ve done note-worthy work in lessons and/or classes. Dr. Louis & Dr. Annette Kaufman were long-time friends of CMC and influential musicians (violin and piano, respectively) internationally. This year we’ve added an annual award in memory of CMC instructor Anthony Dyer , funded by donations from his family and friends.

Other Merit Scholarship Awards will be decided and given before the end of June. There are several merit scholarship awards, named for people who have been in the CMC community. Marian Swartz was a long-time administrative director at CMC. John L. Judge was an important volunteer at CMC, and Dorothea Lensch was Portland Parks first Recreation Director under whom the Center’s program was established. Mildred Berthelsdorf was a community volunteer who worked to promote young voice students. Mary Margaret Dundore was the director of the Francis Street Singers at CMC for many years. These memorial awards above are made possible by permanent endowment funds at the Oregon Community Foundation.

Notice of Annual Meeting 2024

Wed, 29 May 2024 20:29:39 GMT

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April 2024 eNotes

Sat, 18 May 2024 01:43:12 GMT

e-Newsletter for Spring 2024

Winter Recap

Undaunted by the February storm that closed CMC for over a week, we had many activities and events for students, including a visit by a debut performance of a newly-minted set of stringed instruments, and a student showcase for the Monday Musical Club. There is more in store this spring: see the full events list and join us!

Board Seeks Additional Members

Do you have a passion for music education and want to give back to the community in a meaningful way? Learn more and apply now to join the CMC Inc. all-volunteer Board of Directors.

Used Instrument Sale

Occasionally CMC Inc. sells instruments from its collection. Could one of them find a new home with you? See the list and make an appointment to view or purchase.

New Memorial Fund

An endowment fund in memory of Anthony Earl Dyer has been established and is now accepting donations. Anthony was a violin and viola instructor at CMC from 2002 to 2023.

Partnership News

The CMC Inc. Board is a proud sponsor of the Center Powered by Y.O.U.th’s inaugural fundraiser “Reimagine the Possibilities”. Join us at the gala event April 25!

Support While You Shop

Did you know that you can ask Fred Meyer to donate to CMC based on how much you buy there? See their Community Rewards website for more information and to get started.

Now on Instagram

Have you visited CMC Inc. on social media, yet? Find teacher profiles, inspiring quotes, and helpful information about CMC and the musical community of Portland. Follow us @cmc_portland !

Anthony Dyer Memorial Fund

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 22:07:02 GMT

New endowment fund honors memory of CMC teacher

An endowment fund in memory of Anthony Earl Dyer has been established by Cheryle D. Kelley, Anthony’s sister, with the Community Music Center (CMC).

Anthony taught violin and viola lessons to a great number of students of all ages at the Community Music Center for over 20 years, and performed in many of the Center's faculty concerts to raise money for music scholarships.

Donations to the fund can be made directly to Community Music Center, 3350 SE Francis Street, Portland OR 97202, www.communitymusiccenter.org . The endowment will support need-based and merit scholarships to students.

All new gifts to CMC Inc. stipulated as in memory of Anthony Dyer will be contributed to this new endowment unless otherwise requested at the time of donation. For more information, please contact cmc@portlandoregon.gov or call 503-823-3177.

About Anthony Dyer

Anthony Earl Dyer of Portland Oregon, died on 5/31/2023 from complications following a bone marrow transplant. Anthony was born on Christmas Day, 1964 in New Orleans, LA to Earl Anthony Dyer and Alice Matlock Dyer, both deceased. He was the best Christmas present his older sisters, Cheryle and Karen, would ever receive.

Anthony completed his undergraduate degree in music performance at Cal State Northridge and earned graduate music degrees at the Hartt School of Music and the University of Oregon. He settled in Oregon, first in Eugene and later, Portland. He was a member of the Eugene Symphony Orchestra and had a thriving private violin studio. He also taught violin and viola at Portland's Community Music Center.

In addition to music, Anthony flourished in the Capoeira community. He was a Contra Mestre, the first step to becoming a Mestre or Master, often traveling to support others at festivals and celebrations. Anthony formed lifelong friendships with other players who surrounded him with joy and a sense of family. He relished their company and looked forward to more trips to Brazil, the birthplace of this martial arts practice.

Anthony is survived by his oldest sister, Cheryle D. Kelley (Scott) of Princeville, Hawaii ; his nephew, Owen Kelley (Hannah Nestler) and grandnephews Miles and Theo of Cambridge, Mass; and his niece, Dana Kelley, of New York, NY .

He will forever be remembered as a loving, warm and engaging brother, uncle and friend. He left us much too soon.

( Obituary courtesy Legacy.com )

Legacy New Posts

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 19:43:15 GMT

News posts are now in blog format

For news prior to January, 2024, go to our legacy news post list .

New Look, Same CMC!

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 20:28:28 GMT

Welcome to our new website!

This site represents the non-profit board's online presence. We want it to be a gathering place for our community - like the lobby of the school!

Clearer Information

We want to give you what you are looking for quickly and efficiently.

Interactivity

We've included several ways to interact with us and our community, though

Multimedia posts, including Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube
Blog posts on a variety of topics
Virtual poster board, where you can submit an image for an upcoming event that involves a CMC alum, student, staff member or instructor (past or present)

What do you think?
Use the comment section below or email us at cmc@portlandoregon.gov to give us your feedback. It is a work in progress!

Thank you for your support!

Introducing: The Center Powered by Y.O.U.th

Tue, 27 Sep 2022 20:28:28 GMT