Eric Nordin, Director

Instructor: Piano, Voice, M-Company

Eric Nordin received his Bachelor of Arts in Piano Performance and Music Education from Southern Oregon University and his Master of Arts in Music Composition and Conducting from California State University, Chico. As a pianist and vocalist, he has worked the gamut of musical genres from jazz to classical, rock & roll to opera, and musical theater. He also is a self-published composer, writing for choir, jazz groups, symphonic band and piano. As a conductor, Eric has been the music director for over thirty musicals and operas, as well as having been assistant conductor for the North State Symphony in northern California under maestro Kyle Wiley-Pickett. Above all, teaching remains his underlying passion, having taught at a number of universities and community colleges, as well as children's theater camps, and musical theater and piano workshops. When not encouraging students to play and sing, Eric enjoys spending time with his friends, bowling, building furniture and singing karaoke.

 

Kristen McDonald

Scheduling Coordinator/Admissions

Kristen has been a musician for 10 years. She is a trumpet player who has been involved in numerous groups of a vast assortment of genres, including state and national honorary ensembles and orchestras. She is passionate about the musical experience and the lasting effects that musicianship carries for children. Being a strong advocate for music education; Kristen wants to see children grow to appreciate music and reap the benefits that come from understanding the techniques and disciplines taught here at Forte Music School. 

 

Sarah O'Mara  

Instructor: Piano, Violin, Fundamentals

Sarah graduated from the University of Oregon with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a minor in music. She has been studying violin for eighteen years as well as voice, piano, and harp. She has played in several symphony orchestras including the University Symphony at the University of Oregon and has held many leadership positions in the past. She has also played with various other groups including Pink Martini. Before joining the Forte team, Sarah taught violin, voice, and piano at the Lesson Factory in Eugene for three years.

 

Ben Milstein

Instructor: Piano, GarageBand Class

Ben Milstein has lived in Portland since 2004 and has been teaching at Forte since 2006. He is a pianist and composer with a wide range of Musical interests and experience. Ben has studied piano with Robert Durso (Co-Founder and Senior Director of the Golandsky Institute) since 1986. He holds an M.F.A. degree in New Media Composition from the California Institute of the Arts (Valencia, CA), a B.A. degree in Composition from Bard College (Annandale-on-Hudson, NY) and he attended the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music as a Performance major. As a performer Ben currently accompanies both the Satori Men's Chorus and the West Hills Unitarian Universalist Fellowship choir. His original compositions have been released on a number of international record labels in both vinyl and CD format. Besides teaching and performing Ben enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors, cooking and riding his bicycle up (and down) big hills.

 

Sam Densmore  

Instructor: Guitar, Drum Set, Percussion, Rock Band Class

Sam Densmore received his Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition and Technology from Evergreen State College. He has also studied classical guitar at Cornish College of the Arts, Music Production at the Art Institute of Seattle and as a Classical Music major at Southwestern Oregon Community College in his hometown of Coos Bay, Oregon. As a songwriter/guitarist/vocalist, Sam has toured the West Coast extensively, playing concerts, theaters and clubs. He also has a rich recording career as an artist, songwriter, studio musician and producer with literally hundreds of recordings to his credit. When I decided to go to school as a music major, my Dad asked me what I would ever do with an education in that field. I told him I intended to perform, compose, record and teach. That is what I've done. I teach my students the value of musicianship and well roundedness as well as working to inspire them to be creative and have fun playing music. When not at Forte, Sam produces multiple genres of music as a Producer/Recording Engineer, and enjoys performing up and down the West Coast in two bands, Silverhawk and The Jeremy Wilson Band.

 

Josh Carlsen  

Instructor: Guitar

Josh has been playing guitar since age 12, originally teaching himself to play rock and acoustic music by ear. He holds an Associates Degree in Music Performance from the McNally/Smith College of Music in St. Paul, MN and will be finishing his Bachelors Degree in Psychology at Portland State University in early 2011. Josh moved to Portland, Oregon in 2000 and has been teaching at Forte Music School since 2006 as well as teaching privately in Portland since 2003. His teaching philosophy focuses heavily on sight-reading, learning chords, solo guitar playing, and development of a musical repertoire for guitarists that is functional in a multitude of settings. Josh has also been playing weddings and special events in the greater Portland and Northwest area since 2003 (http://www.jjcarlsen.com). When not teaching, Josh enjoys drinking espresso, biking, and climbing mountains around Oregon and Washington.

 

Kris Dyer  

Instructor: Piano & Voice

Kris a native Oregonian started singing at a young age. During highschool Kris sang with multiple choral ensembles and took private voice lessons at OSU. Kris chose to study music in college and excelled as a soloist, as well as, a choral singer. Studying voice took Kris over seas several times and Kris eventually added German language to his studies. In 2000 Kris lived abroad in Frieburg Germany and studied both language and music at the local music conservatory. Upon returning home Kris sang with the renowned PSU Chamber Choir and was lucky to travel abroad with them to Estonia. The PSU Chamber Choir was selected to perform at the ACDA (American Choral Directors Association) International conference in NYC, the top honor bestowed on a choral ensemble, and got to perform in Carnegie Hall. Kris graduated University in 2002 with degrees in Music and German language. Since then Kris has taught voice and piano to hundred of students. From rock bands to classical to jazz Kris has had great success with his students. Kris has also maintained a career as a professional choral singer and sings with various ensembles in Portland.

 

Amy Merwin  

Instructor: Piano

Amy Merwin has been a Piano Teacher and Music Teacher in Portland, Oregon since 2008. Since she started teaching in 2000, she has taught at several Oregon schools as well as the International School of Geneva in Switzerland. Amy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Southern Oregon University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Oregon State University. She holds a current Oregon teaching license from TSPC with a Music Endorsement for grades PP-12. With many years of experience performing, accompanying, and teaching, Amy specializes in teaching private piano lessons for all ages, general music classes, ensembles, and teaches in both English and French. Teaching music is her passion and she enjoys spreading the joy of the international language of music.