News Posts List

New Instructors for Fall 2022

Adrian P. Baxter, Instructor at M.U.S.E. and Ethos. Reeds for Mariachi Viva Mexico, Oregon Music Hall of Famer; Bachelor of Music at University of Oregon School of Music; Platinum Album “Zoot Suit Riot” with “The Cherry Poppin’ Daddies”; Composer nominated for 2016 Drammy Award “Best Original Music in a Play” for Signet Productions’ “The Setup”; performed with Les McCann, Tito Puente Jr., Melcochita, The Temptations, Yolanda Del Rio, Ramsey Embick, Mel Brown, Andre St. James, Damien Erskine, Patrick Lamb, Dr. Freddy Vilches Meneses (Matices & Son de Cuba), Signet Productions, Conjunto Alegre, Rhythm Culture, Cambeleche (Seattle), and many local Portland artists.

Nancy Cummings has a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with a combined six years teaching toddler & preschool classes, as well as second and third grade. I also have a background in playing both viola & guitar.

Isabel Dammann is a violinist/fiddler and vocalist who likes to weave between genres, from classical to traditional fiddle styles to singer-songwriter. She received her Bachelor of Music in violin performance (and a Bachelor of Arts in geology!) from Lawrence University in 2017, after which she lived in Minneapolis for four years and formed progressive folk tabla-violin-guitar trio Sprig of That, with whom she still performs regularly around the country. Recently, she relocated back to her hometown of Portland, OR, where she is teaching violin, viola and voice lessons, gigging regularly as a freelancer, and exploring new musical collaborations.

Shanea Jorden is a Portland-based musician and songwriter. They graduated from CU Denver with a B.A.S. in songwriting, and have been featured on Portland Radio Project’s new local music for their solo project Shanea. 

Melinda Messore Holbert joins CMC with over 15 years of experience teaching individual piano lessons, primarily to ages 5-15. She also teaches group piano classes and piano camps at Ethos Music Center.  Her teaching methods blend music theory, sight reading, fundamentals and skills with keeping music fun and interesting for students. Melinda holds a master's in teaching from Lewis & Clark College.

Born in Valencia, Spain, Lluis Soldevila is a graduate from the Barcelona and Valencia's Superior Conservatory and began performing professionally at the age of 15 in Europe. Lluis has 30 years of international playing and teaching experience. Also, he has studies in psychology. He has played primarily as a soloist, principal horn and chamber player in Europe, and in the United States in Florida, Washington and Oregon. Lluis plays French horn as professional player, and he also teaches piano, trumpet, violin and ukulele.

Timothy Van Cleave is a collaborative musical artist and music educator. Currently Timothy teaches privately in downtown PDX, at the Ethos Music Center in North Portland and performs and tours with Tara Velarde. He pursues a variety of performing opportunities with orchestras, chamber ensembles, jazz ensembles, indie-classical-pop, singer-songwriters, and Indian Classical Music. Timothy has a Doctorate of Arts degree in percussion performance and music theory and composition from Ball State University in his home town of Muncie, Indiana. 

New Board Members

J C Smith wears many hats. As a private voice and piano instructor for nearly two decades, he has worked to bring music into the lives of all who want to learn. He is a founding-President, instructor, musician and events manager for the Portland non-profit The Big Mouth Society. He is a Tenor that has performed in award-winning ensembles both local to Portland and beyond. He has served as the Director of Summer Camp Programs for Ethos Music Center in North Portland, working alongside several instructors who now teach for CMC. With a degree in Music Business and Entertainment Industries from the University of Miami (Florida) he now combines his love of the tabletop industry and live entertainment as an Events Manager for Gen Con, North America's largest tabletop gaming convention. He is excited to share his passion for music education as well as his advocacy for diversity and inclusion in the Portland area with the CMC Board.

Peter Tsiorba is guitar maker, focusing on nylon stringed guitars, and their restoration maintenance. He grew up in Uzbekistan, studied piano as a youth, and dabbled in many other instruments: guitar, harmonica, bass guitar, accordion, penny whistles and once rented a viola da gamba. Mr. Tsiorba speaks two languages, lived in three countries, and visited about 15 at the last count. He spends his days making guitars, gardening, visiting live music events and traveling. He brings to CMC his enthusiasm for musical education, connections in the music community, and his expertise in musical instrument maintenance and restoration.