OCTOBER 2011
Wow, what a past couple of months we have had! We will start at the top:
Thank You for Helping to Make MVM's 3rd Anniversary Party a Huge Success! – Raising Over $11,000!
We are truly honored and humbled to have the support of such an amazing community! Our music programs have created a space that many of our students have come to think of as a “family” - a place where they can throw out any idea, say anything and it will be accepted. Just like any family, My Voice Music needs a home. The generosity we received at our Anniversary Party will go a long way to helping us find a permanent place to operate our programs. Thank you for helping us to provide inspiring music programs to youth throughout Portland!
- And if you were not able to attend our event and would still like to donate, please click here: Donate Now (and thank you!)
In case you missed the event, our student’s gave some amazing performances! We were so grateful to have them on stage performing for us. There will be video footage coming shortly thanks to some very gracious PSU film students who are creating a “behind the scenes” rock n roll documentary about the students – stay tuned!
A special “thankyou” goes out to the Radio Room who generously came forward with a $1,000 match for our live appeal which ended up getting nearly quadrupled!!! And thank you to Karen Darr, My Voice Music’s Fundraising Chair who volunteered countless hours of her own time (in addition to working a full time job) making sure this event went off without a hitch. Additional thanks go out to Regence BlueCross Bluesheild of Oregon who sponsored our event.
Our Student Performers with Bibi McGill (Guitarist and Music Director for Beyonce)!
Founder & Executive Director, Ian Mouser, awarded a 2011 Skidmore Prize by the Willamette Week recognizing outstanding nonprofit leaders and staffers in Portland.
“Ian has created and grown an organization that is strong and robust in a very short amount of time. Many people in nonprofits want to do good or make things better while preserving or living their life style. What makes Ian exceptional is that he has devoted his life and livelihood to this project with purpose and vision. Due to Ian’s hard work, enthusiasm and inspiration we have grown the organization to serve over 500 youth a year with an annual budget of just over $50,000. We continue to grow. This is only possible if you have an inspiring leader, a compelling mission, and a dedication to those you serve. My Voice Music has this in Ian Mouser.” Wyatt Mondry, founding member of My Voice Music’s Board of Directors.
This prize comes with a complimentary add in this years GiveGuide! in addition to a personal cash gift. Stay tuned for some awesome GiveGuide! parties!
The 2011 Student Compilation Album, "Today Is A New Day" has Arrived!
We are proud to release our first ever, student compilation album! This compilation features 13 amazing songs written and recorded by the youth in our programs. Some of these songs are truly heart breaking while others are fun and artsy! Each song includes behind the scenes introductions by Portland notables including, Mayor Sam Adams, Storm Large, Dave Dahl of Dave’s Killer Bread, Author Chelsea Cain, Bibi McGill (Guitarist and Music Director for Beyonce) and many, many more.
The album is free to anyone who would like one – with a catch – we ask that after you have listened to it and enjoyed every last second of it, you share it with a friend who may enjoy the music and be interested in the work we do. You can download the entire album for free or we will gladly mail you a copy. Click here to take a listen!
My Voice Music in the Press!
We are excited to recieve such significant recognition of how our programs are positively affecting our community. Below are some really nice pieces about what we do, enjoy!
My Voice Music Inspires Youth - Watch this featured video on KGW News about My Voice Music and our students. It features three of the youth in our programs who performed at our anniversary event. They were amazing! Click to watch the video
My Voice Music: Making a difference one song at a time - Check the lead story on us at Oregon Music News! Click to view story
Ian sits down with the folks at KZME, 107.1fm - talks MVM, local music and more! Click to view story
AUGUST 2011
We really had a great time running programs this summer! With your support we recorded over 40 songs, held 6 performances and worked with over 70 young folks in our camps! Please take a minute to listen to a couple of the songs that were written and recorded by our students this summer...it's our way of saying, "THANK YOU!"
Click Here To Listen To Selected Summer Program Songs
This was also the first summer we were able to run rock camps that were open to the public at a "pay what you can afford" rate. These independent programs have already become a place to build community for youth who are often isolated due to circumstance and a lack of opportunity. In time, this new series of groups will create long-term mentor relationships based around music for many youth in the Portland area. Special thanks to the Oregon Public House for letting us use their Village Ballroom at a very discounted rate this summer!
We also had a lot of fun boothing at pdxpopnow!'s festival and Last Thursday on Alberta. Thank you to all the volunteers who helped us to table these events.
By the end of this year we will have worked with nearly 500 kids! That number is pretty unbelievable. We are only able to do this because of the generous support we receive from our community. Your gifts of time and money, and your willingness to share My Voice Music with your friends and family are so appreciated. Thank you!
JUNE 2011
PROGRAM UPDATES:
Summer is finally here and we couldn't be more excited to get our summer programs under way! This summer marks our first year offering camps that are available to the public at large. To learn how to get involved in our summer camps please click on the link below to get more information.
The end of the school year brought the conclusion of our independent rock camps which were a great success! We offered programs to 18 youth, who learned to play music, wrote their own songs, recorded them and then performed them as a band. Click the link to hear some songs from their sessions. Spring Independent Program Songs
In addition to our independent rock camps, we have been all about the town running music workshops, music in treatment groups and of course, more rock camps! This spring we were so happy to work with PDX POP NOW! again during their outreach day at H.B.Lee Middle School. We ran music workshops with over 70 kids over the course of three quick hours! To read more about this experience click on the following link; Music Outreach Day at H.B.Lee Middle School. We also ran two programs with our "friends" at Friends of the Children hosting rock camps for their youth who were able to give performances to audiences of nearly 100 people!
Our Music In Treatment program at Albertina Kerr continues to be a popular group that helps youth to participate in, and receive, the natural therapeutic elements of music. Twice a week, youth are given the opportunity to participate in drum circles, sing along groups, and are encouraged to write and record their own songs. To get an idea of what happens in these groups, click the following link to read about one story we chose to share...and while your their listen to the song as well! Music In Treatment Story and Song
FUNDRAISING UPDATES:
Our Meals For Wheels campaign is wrapping up in September. So far these benefit dinners have helped us to raise over $4,500 towards a new van. Getting us very close to our final goal of $6,000! In May, we were fortunate to have, Ben Grossman, Sou Chef at Nostrana (one of the northwest's finest restaurants) prepare and intimate five course dinner for guests at MVM Founder, Ian Mouser and his partner, Karen Darr's home. Additionally, in June, six Portland food carts gave proceeds from their sales to My Voice Music! Those wonderful food carts were: The Big Egg | Give Pizza A Chance | Big Ass Sandwiches | Whiffies Fried Pies | Wet Hot Beet. We are so grateful, Thanks!
HeART Beats, A Benefit Concert for My Voice Music and Vibe of Portland was a great success. Local bands, Tango Alpha Tango, Sara Jackson-Holeman, Boy Eats Drum Machine and The Cowpaddy Stompers entertained the crowds that came out to The Village Ballroom in support of MVM and Vibe. The night was so much fun - and it raised over $3,000 for Vibe and MVM! To read more about this event, see pictures, get links to the bands pages, and to read our very BIG THANKS TO THE OREGON PUBLIC HOUSE, please click on the the following link: HeART Beats.
If you have a child that would like to participate in our programs please call or email us to reserve a spot today! Then download the registration form (below), fill it out and turn it in before the first program class begins.
follow us