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.
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