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Mentor movements include three former CMC students returning as instructors!

Two long-time CMC instructors are moving on: John Hubbard (cello) after 20 years, and Stevie McDougal (cello) after over 35 years at the Center. We appreciate their amazing service to the youth of Portland, and wish them well.

CMC welcomes back Alberta Hardy (violin), Karen Hilley (violin), and Ellen Kjelgaard Godula, who were all students at CMC - in different decades - and now are highly trained performing artist instructors. Maria Garcia (piano) joins our staff-accompanist list.  

Visit our full list of faculty biographies, and be impressed!

MARIA GARCIA (piano): Bachelor Degree from New England Conservatory, Masters and Doctorate (ABD) from State University of New York at Stony Brook. teacher, accompanist and coach at Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division, City University of New York, and others. Performer of chamber music anc solo, including Casals Festival.

ELLEN GODULA (piano): B.A from University of California at Santa Cruz (focus Music Performance: piano). Pianist, Lincoln Stree United Methodist Church. Freelance performer and touring musician. In youth: violin student at CMC and Portland Youth Philharmonic.

ALBERTA HARDY (violin): B. A. from Portland State University Summa Cum Laude. Also Seattle Pacific University and University of Mobile. Resistered Suzuki instructor. Theatre Instructor: PP&R.

KAREN HILLEY (violin): Master's Degree in Education. Suzuki teacher trained. Orchestra director: Reynolds & Walt Morley Middle Schools. Freelance musician, Portland Opera and Portland Ballet Orchestras, Portland Chamber Orchestra, and Oregon Symphony. In youth: violin student & Kaufman Award winner at CMC.