The Ensemble News: A Place to Share What I Needed: Finding Our Strengths at My Voice Music

By Ian Mouser, Founder and Executive Director, My Voice Music

I founded My Voice Music as a nonprofit 13 years ago in Portland, Oregon. Our mission is to amplify young voices and ignite self-discovery through music. Our mantra is “Write, Record, Release,” and our medium is popular music. In a typical year, we serve over 1,000 youth onsite in residential facilities such as mental health treatment centers, migrant detention centers, and juvenile justice facilities. At MVM Studios, our headquarters and recording studio, we serve 400–500 youth from the general public through lessons, summer rock camps, an afterschool drop-in program, recording sessions, and leadership training. All our programs are pay-what-you-can, with 82% of youth on full or partial scholarship.