Music Theory and Composition Program

Tyler Slaughter was born and raised in Reno, NV. Tyler received his Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of Nevada Reno in 2018 where he continued participating in the University Orchestra. Tyler began his teaching career as a middle school orchestra teacher at Yvonne Shaw Middle School in Sparks, NV where he taught a full-time string program for three years before moving to Portland to pursue his Master’s in Music from Portland State University. Tyler also brings three years of teaching experience with an El Sistema adjacent program in Reno called Reno Philharmonic Association Kids (RPAK) where he taught violin and note-reading classes to students ranging from 2-5th grade in various Title I elementary schools. Tyler currently serves as the Orchestra teacher at both West Linn HS and Athey Creek MS. He is excited to continue being a part of the MYS team and assisting in its goal of equitable opportunity in music.

Born in Belem, Brazil, Eri Nogueira began her violin studies at age 10 at Carlos Gomes
Music Conservatory with Mr. Alexander Serafimov, and later on with Mr. Serguei Firsanov. In 1994, Eri received the “Honorable Mention” prize at the “Young Musicians Competition” in Piracicaba, Brazil. Eri performed several annual solo recitals during her studies at the Conservatory and joined the Teatro da Paz Symphony Orchestra in 1997. Upon graduating, Eri pursued her bachelor’s and master’s degree in violin performance with Mr. Jerrold Rubenstein, at Antwerp Conservatory, in Belgium.

In 2006, Eri returned to her hometown and began teaching and coordinating the violin and chamber music departments at Carlos Gomes Conservatory and Vale Musica Foundation, an “El Sistema” inspired program, for underserved children. Concomitantly, Eri performed as assistant concertmaster at Theatro da Paz Symphony Orchestra. In 2008, Eri became a member of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Minas Gerais and Sesi Minas Chamber Orchestra in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. She also taught violin at after-school programs for underserved children during that time. In 2012, Eri moved to Portland, opening a private music studio, becoming a teaching artist at Oregon Bravo Youth Orchestras, and a member of Vancouver
Symphony Orchestra, Portland Columbia Symphony Orchestra, and concertmaster of Willamette Falls Symphony.

Shortly after earning a Master’s in Education degree from Portland State University in 2018,
Eri Nogueira joined the faculty team of Lake Oswego Middle School and Lake Oswego High
School as orchestra director. She also coordinated and taught at the Lake Oswego
Elementary Strings after-school program. Under her direction, the high school orchestra
program won the district league in 2019 and 2022. The middle school program won 3rd
place at the Music in the Parks Festival in 2019 and first place in 2022. In 2022, Eri was
nominated for the 2022 LifeChanger of the Year.

Currently, Eri Nogueira teaches general music at Palisades World Language School and
maintains her playing artistry by performing with various ensembles in Oregon and
Washington. Eri has great interest in nature, traveling and culinary.

Avery Soot is a student and guitarist at Pacific University studying for an undergraduate degree in Music Education. He has studied pedagogy with Dr. Dijana Ihas and taught in the Pacific University String Project (PUSP) for 2 years. He teaches a private guitar studio in Hillsboro, OR and is a proud student teacher at Forest Grove High School. 

Ryan Francis’s music has received grants and awards including from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the Jerome Foundation, and the Augustine Foundation, and his music has been performed across the U.S. and internationally. Francis is a faculty member at Pacific University where he teaches music technology, music theory, and international music studies. Francis holds a B.M. in music composition from the University of Michigan and an M.M. and D.M.A. in music composition from the Juilliard School.

Kirsten Volness is an electro/acoustic composer and pianist whose music is inspired by nature, myth, science, spirituality, and environmental and sociopolitical issues. She has received commissions from New Music USA, the BMI Foundation, ASCAP/SEAMUS, The American Opera Project, Metropolis Ensemble, Hotel Elefant, NOW Ensemble, Transient Canvas, Ann Arbor Symphony, and Experiential Orchestra. She performs with Providence-based Verdant Vibes, a new music ensemble and concert series she co-founded in 2015. Recipient of the MacColl Johnson and RISCA Fellowships in Music Composition, Kirsten was 2017 composer-in-residence at the Music Mansion, creating the First Fridays concert series, and served on the board of directors as Secretary. She collaborates with Meridian Project on multimedia performances exploring astrophysics, writes and performs operas with the homeless advocacy group Tenderloin Opera Company, and is an affiliate artist of Sleeping Weazel theatre company. She earned composition degrees from the Universities of Michigan (DMA, MM) and Minnesota (BA summa cum laude) and has taught privately, at Lewis & Clark, Reed College, and the University of Rhode Island.