TRANSPOSE COMMUNITY CHOIR is a non-auditioned, accompanied singing group where we make music in a unique non-binary choir structure.
ACCHORD is an auditioned a cappella group which focuses on musical and social outreach in our local community.
Together, Transpose Community Choir and Acchord form TRANSPOSE PDX, which centers the transgender, non-binary, and gender nonconforming community in leadership, membership, and focus. Our mission is to empower our community by creating a brave and accountable space to expand musical skills, develop a sense of identity, and center our voices in song.
Transpose PDX Vision Statement:
“We are the ripple-starters, the ambassadors of change, and the consciousness-raisers. We humanize trans folks through the most human of art forms — singing! Through rural outreach performances we become visible; may the people who encounter us no longer feel alone, gain the courage to be their authentic selves, and be inspired to start their own ripples.”
Board of Directors (2020-2021)
Jo Ayers (they/them) grew up on the Oregon coast, attended college in southern Oregon (BS Physics), and has lived in the Portland Metro area since 1998. They have served on the vestry of an Episcopal parish, including some time as clerk, and they have spent several years in various positions on the board of directors for Kumoricon, a local anime convention. They joined Transpose in Fall 2017 and began attending Planning Team meetings later that year. Jo gives money to panhandlers, they pick up hitchhikers, and they have MS Excel wrapped around their finger. (Board Treasurer)
Justin Diller (he/him) has lived in Oregon his whole life, growing up in Eugene and moving to Portland in 2008. He has spent nearly the last ten years working in non-profit fund development, and is currently working at Oregon Food Bank as Development Project Coordinator. Justin has also been singing in choirs and ensembles since a young age and is currently one of a seven member acapella group, Rezonate. Justin has been a fan of Transpose and Acchord and is thrilled to support this organization achieve its strategic goals.
Emery Olson (they/them) moved to Portland in 2011 and began volunteering with queer organizations in the area that same year. In Fall 2017, Emery began singing with Transpose (V2/V3) and has served the organization on the Planning Team, the Bylaws Committee and now as a board member. When not volunteering their time, Emery can often be found performing acupuncture, reading fantasy novels and snuggling small furry animals. (Board President)
Sasha Reid (they/them or ey/em) grew up in rural Maine before earning a BS in Computer Science in Massachusetts. They have many years of musical experience, including stage performances, orchestra, chamber choirs, concert choirs, and acapella groups. They moved to Portland in 2009 but couldn’t bring themselves to join a more traditional choir and were delighted to discover Transpose and Acchord late one night while googling for LGBTQ choirs. Sasha works a day job for a public benefit corp dedicated to improving accessibility to government services. They truly believe that Transpose PDX provides a unique community to its members in addition to making choral music accessible to trans voices.
Amir Shirazi (they/them) is an active composer, arranger, sound designer, music director, and songwriter. They serve as Artistic Director for Transpose PDX, are a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, and serve as one of the organizers of the 2021 Trans Voices Festival. Amir graduated from Boston College in 2009 with a B.A. in Music, concentrating in composition and theory. www.amirbshirazi.com (Artistic Director)
Oriol Zemko (they/them) has called Portland home since 2006. They started serving with the Transpose PDX Planning Team in late 2017. Oriol has been singing with Acchord since 2019, and with Transpose Community Choir (intermittently) since 2018. They have also performed with Portland Lesbian Choir and a multi-generational rock/folk band. Outside of musical life, they work as a primary care provider specializing in Lifestyle Medicine and gender affirming care. Oriol also acts as Secretary for Veganville Oregon, an animal rescue, conservation, and educational 501c3. They are mildly obsessed with queering healthcare and helping queers heal. (Board Secretary)
