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
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 a 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)
Coren Rau (they/them or he/him) is a teacher and visual artist who has lived in Portland since 2011. Coren holds an MFA in Applied Craft and Design from Oregon College of Art and Craft (2011) and a Masters in Teaching from Lewis and Clark College (2017) and currently teaches Visual Art at Lincoln High School in Portland. Coren joined Transpose Community Choir in winter of 2019 and started serving on the Planning Team almost immediately. In the short time they’ve been involved with Transpose, Coren has been deeply moved by the generous, supportive community this organization fosters. They believe firmly that trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming folx need and deserve spaces, like Transpose PDX, that foster our extraordinary talents and center our voices. They are excited to continue supporting the vital, life-affirming work of this organization by serving as a member of the board.
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 are a Catalyst Transgender Leadership Program member with Basic Rights Oregon. Amir graduated from Boston College in 2009 with a B.A. in Music, concentrating in composition and theory. www.amirbshirazi.com (Artistic Director)
Sam Stoelton (they/them) moved to the Pacific Northwest in 2012 and has found in Oregon a Trans and Queer community they would not have thought possible growing up in rural Nevada. They began singing with Transpose in Spring of 2018 and have served on both the Transpose Music and Bylaws committees since. They also volunteer as a community organizer with Friends of Seasonal Service Workers and as co-facilitator for a Trans support and discussion group that meets at Q Center. Sam would most like to witness Transpose PDX evolve and grow to reach more people – Trans, Nonbinary, Gender Non-conforming, as well as Cisgender – in order to continue to inspire and unite our community.
Oriol Zemko (she/her or they/them) started serving with the Transpose PDX Planning Team in late 2017. An intermittent member of Transpose Community Choir (2018), Portland Lesbian Choir (2011), and enthusiastic member of Acchord (2019), Oriol also jams with a multi-generational rock/folk band that can’t settle on a name. They are a newly minted Family Nurse Practitioner and have a robust background in plant based nutrition. Oriol also acts as Secretary/Board of Directors for Veganville Oregon, an animal rescue, conservation, and educational 501c3. They strive to expand consciousness of gender identity in all settings…and they really want to see Transpose PDX take the stage at GALA! (Board Secretary)
