Our Story
Founded in 1998 in Portland, Oregon, Ethos is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides music lessons, multicultural performances, and outreach to thousands of students each year.
When Ethos began, classes were held in a basement at the University of Portland and staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers. Ethos has since grown into an organization that employs a small administrative staff and more than 30 part-time music instructors. The President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities has named Ethos one of the top 50 after-school arts programs in the U.S. eight times since 2003.
We partner with and listen to students, families, and community advocates to collaboratively identify and remove a variety of barriers to music education.
Ethos believes all students deserve access to the well documented benefits of music education regardless of socioeconomic status, geographic location, abilities, religion, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Meet the Team
Ethos staff, instructors, and volunteers represent a wide variety of backgrounds, just like the students we serve. We were all drawn to Ethos because of our love for music and our shared belief that music can transform people and communities.
Megan Moran
Acting Executive Director & Rural Outreach Program Director
Megan (she/they) has recently returned to Ethos in her capacity as Ethos AmeriCorps Rural Outreach Program Director. Megan has been part of the Ethos team as an AmeriCorps music facilitator, program coordinator, and program director at various points since 2007. Throughout her time with Ethos and other organizations, Megan has been dedicated to helping provide access to music for youth while building community, with gratitude for all those who have supported her along her path. As a freelance violinist, Megan performs with regional orchestras, folk and jazz ensembles, as well as projects with friends.
Alberto Rincon-Pardo
Admissions, Volunteer, and Marketing Coordinator
Alberto (He/Him) is a vocal musician who loves to sing classical, jazz, and pop music. Alberto graduated from University of Portland with a B.A. in vocal performance and received his M.B.A. at Louisiana State University Shreveport. At Ethos, Alberto assists with a variety of roles from admissions, volunteer coordination, and marketing. In his free time you can find him performing comedy musical improv, playing games like dungeons and dragons, and weightlifting.
Estacada Thorsen
Finance & Operations Specialist
Cada (she/her) joined Ethos as an employee in August 2023, but she has been involved with the Ethos community, as a student and volunteer since 2009. Cada now works part time at Ethos helping with Financial and Operational tasks, as well as being a full time Accounting student at Portland State University. In her spare time, Cada likes to cook, look at pictures of capybaras, and spend time with her pet Guinea pigs.
Liz Harper
Admissions Manager
Born in Nashville, TN, raised in Austin, TX, and Portland resident since 2018, Liz (they/them) has had a passion for music their whole life. Since moving to Portland, Liz has completed a degree in Music Education from Portland State University and been an active member in the Portland music scene. At Ethos, you can find Liz at the front desk or singing in a spare classroom on their breaks. In their free time, Liz loves to sew, do crafts, write, and hang out with their partner and their four pets.
Maya Brown
Instrument Program Intern
Maya Brown (she/her) is a multi-instrumentalist and band teacher at Ethos Music Center, as well as an active member of the Portland area music scene as both a musician and a sound engineer. Maya loves teaching and playing all types of music, and specializes in music for screens like video games and movies. After complete the Sonic Art and Music Production program at Portland State University, Maya transferred to Portland Community College to start the Electric Engineering Technology program with a focus on instrument and gear repair. She is a piano teacher, bass guitar teacher, guitar teacher and vocal instructor at Ethos.
Fyre Killsright Daway
Instrument & Facilities Manager/Summer Camp Director
Fyre (they/them) is from Hillsboro but moved to Portland in their late teens. They are self-taught in piano and started learning other instruments while doing an instrument internship with the Artist Mentorship Program. They accepted an internship with Ethos in 2018, becoming Instrument Manager about a year later. Fyre also teaches Ukulele for Ethos. Outside of Ethos they enjoy flying their drone, biking, and participating in circus arts.
Lauren Coons
Progam Director
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Lauren (she/her) moved to Portland in 2024. She received her Masters in Music Theory & Composition and Musicology from the University of New Mexico where she specialized in improvisation, community engagement, American Experimentalism, and the intersection of arts and health. As an intermedia composer with a background in dance and creative writing, she has composed numerous works for national and international performers and community ensembles while also serving as an educator and artist-in-medicine. Lauren is dedicated to fostering the wellbeing of individuals and communities by promoting equitable access to participation in the arts.
Adrian Leyva
Development Coordinator
Adrian (he/they) joined the Ethos team in May 2022 coordinating group classes at PPS SUN schools around the city. He now is involved with our development team.
Born and raised in Houston TX, Adrian did his undergraduate studies in Music Education at Baylor University and the University of Houston. While he pursued other ventures outside of music, Adrian still kept it a part of his life by participating in a number of community groups in Houston, Minneapolis, and now in Portland. He has served as Vice President of the Board for the Houston Pride Band and as the Assistant Artistic Director for the Minnesota State Band, as well as the City of Lakes Community Band.
Board of Directors
Brian Dueltgen
Architect, LRS Architects
Keri Kuper
Ethos Parent & Customer Service, Regence Medicare
Anneliese Davis, President
Ethos Parent, Nonprofit Leader, & Project Manager
Dr. Marina Merrill
Director of Research & Strategy, Children’s Institute
Susan Daigle
Director of Philanthropy, Nature Conservancy
Ralph Austin
Loan Officer, Retired
Lauren Weisskirk
Ethos Parent & Owner/Principal Consultant of Gladiolus, LLC.
Jeremy Gambill, Secretary
External Communications Program Manager,
New Seasons Market
Anna Mar, Treasurer
Senior Revenue Auditor, City of Portland & Part-time Adjunct Faculty at Portland State’s School of Business
Sarah Clarke
Vocalist / Songwriter / Performer at Sarah Clarke Music Founder / President at Musicians In Solidarity Co-Director of LEAP at MusicPortland
Kyra Hazilla
Ethos Parent & Director of the Oregon Attorney Assistance Program
Work with Us!
Come work with us and make a difference in the lives of young musicians.