With funding at risk, East Portland’s ‘Community Music Center’ celebrates 70 years

INCLUDES TUNEFUL VIDEO | Here was a fun event that highlighted decades of musical training that has been provided to all across East Portland …

It’s a sold-out event: the Community Music Center’s 70th Anniversary & Faculty Celebration, at their highly-recognizable East Portland facility.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

Tickets for the Community Music Center’s 70th Anniversary & Faculty Celebration on Saturday, May 3, were “sold out” for weeks before that afternoon. It was held in their own building – the Community Center is situated in one of Portland’s original firehouses, in the Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood.

The celebration began at 2 p.m. with a reception, and a display of memorabilia, followed an hour later by a benefit concert featuring faculty and staff performers, all of whom donated their performances.

At the registration desk during the Community Music Center’s 70th Anniversary & Faculty Celebration are volunteer Judy Koonce and Board Member Sara Watts.

Guests browse historical CMC memorabilia, documenting their seven decades of music education in Portland.

Catering treats is in the lobby during the celebration is the nonprofit Community Music Center, Inc. president, Judy Rompa of Crumbl Cookies.

After its seven decades in Portland, the Community Music Center (CMC) continues to provide under-served communities with musical education by way of its core programming, and through partnerships. That’s what we learned from CMC Executive Director Gregory Dubay.

The Community Music Center “feels like home” to Executive Director Gregory Dubay.

“Having started here in 2002, I’m coming up on 23 years of my directing the CMC,” remarked Dubay. “The CMC is very much ‘home’ to me because, as a kid, I was a cello student here before going off to study music in college.

“Then, after being involved in musical events around the world, I was fortunate enough to be selected to direct the CMC, coming ‘back home’ – where I can continue doing what I love: Creating music education opportunities, and creating musical events.”

Rehearsing on stage before their performance are CMC musician/teachers Hong Chou, Erica Leibert, and Daniel Reyes Llinás guitarist playing Summer Night Music by Yang Shanyue.

Of the many performing artists who have served the community at the CMC as music teachers, Dubay introduced us to two of them – both whom subsequently performed in the afternoon’s concert – and they shared their stories.

See, and hear, highlights of this celebration:

Meet violinist and viola teacher Cynthia Scott

Through 30 years teaching at CMC, Cynthia Scott says her goal remains to help make “beautiful people” through music.

Cynthia Scott, a violinist and viola teacher at CMC for 30 years, obtained an undergraduate degree in violin performance and a Masters Degree in Suzuki [method] Pedagogy.

Both in her private studio, Metropolitan Suzuki School, and in public schools for 32 years, Scott continues to value music education. “Music is essential for all of us; it’s our birthright – our soul – and our heart. Everyone should have the opportunity to learn to play music.

“While I’ve taught hundreds and hundreds of students over the years, and some of them have gone on to be professional musicians, with the Suzuki method – the idea is to make beautiful people, and beautiful hearts, through the study of music; not necessarily to make professional musicians,” Scott explained.

Meet violinist and teacher Andrew Ehrlich

Teaching at CMC for 31 years, violinist Andrew Ehrlich calls the Center “a jewel”. In addition to teaching, he’s also part of the Klezmer band Carpathian-Pacific Express.

A few minutes before the celebratory concert began, violinist Andrew Ehrlich, himself celebrating teaching at CMC for 31 years, sat in the facility’s David Beal Campbell Auditorium, and there told us about his experience with the organization.

“In addition to teaching violin, I conduct the CMC Adult Orchestra,” Ehrlich said.

“The most important thing to me about Community Music Center is that it’s a place that is accessible, as part of the Portland Parks & Recreation and with scholarships, for those who do not have the funds to take music lessons,” reflected Ehrlich. “It’s an opportunity to open the world of music to everyone in the community.

“Because of what we’re being able to provide to children; it’s an honor to be teaching here. The CMC is a precious ‘jewel’ in our city, of which we can be proud!”

Additional instructors honored at the celebration included:

Gayle Stuwe Neuman (recorder, renaissance winds): 45 years
Philip Neuman (recorder, renaissance winds): 45 years
Hong Chou (violin): 29 years
Tracey Edson (chorus): 29 years
Zita Jefferson (piano): 29 years

One of the memorabilia boards shows the rich history of the CMC. Today its finances might now be in jeopardy due to City of Portland budget cuts.

The future of CMC funding in question
As Portland struggles to balance its budget – and CMC funding may be on the chopping block – we later asked Director Dubay about the future of the venerable music center.

“We’ve been very blessed, over the last 70 years, to be supported through our nonprofit organization the Community Music Center Inc.,” explained Dubay. ”While the CMC is a Portland Parks & Recreation funded program, it’s actually sponsored by our nonprofit organization.

“Funding from Portland Parks has been supplemented by gifts from generous donors over the years, as well as grants,” Dubay said. “Thus, we are still looking forward to this continuing for another seven decades.”

For more information about the Community Music Center, see their official website at CLICK HERE.

On our Front Page: CMC teacher of 29 years, Hong Chou, plays in the benefit concert.

Comments are closed.