It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you of the death of our beloved Founder/ Executive Director Ian T. Mouser. As some of you may know, Ian was pursuing his dream of cycling across the United States. Four days into the ride, on the morning of October 14, a pickup truck collided with his bicycle on U.S. 70 just outside Safford, Arizona.

Let It Be Community Sing-along In Honor of Ian Mouser, Oct 23rd, 2021

Friends of Ian invite you to join in a city-wide singing of the Beatles’ “Let It Be” on Saturday October 23rd, 2021, the day Ian was hoping to complete the ride. Ian closed most MVM events and classes with the song. On Saturday at 6pm there will be an optional bike ride organized by Ian’s biking community from My Voice Music (3520 SE Yamhill) to Laurelhurst Park. At 6:30 pm we will sing “Let It Be” during a candlelight vigil.

If you are unable to attend in person, you are invited to sing at 6:30pm with us from wherever you are with people you care about.

If called, please bring something to add to a small altar for Ian at Laurelhurst Park. Some examples include a small memento, picture, gem stone, flowers, relics, etc. After the event, we will move the altar to the MVM space. Therefore, bring an altar item you feel comfortable leaving.

If you are inclined to share a video, photo, memory, or reflection of Ian or his work, you can use the hashtags #LetItBeMVM #IanMouser and tag @myvoicemusic. This event is on Facebook.

This event will go on rain or shine, as Ian would have.

The Lewis Prize “Accelerating Change” Video

Before Ian died he worked on a video about MVM’s programs that launched this week as part of The Lewis Prize for Music’s “Accelerating Change Video Series”. In 2020, Ian received the inaugural Lewis Prize, a $500,000 award given to three organizations across the U.S. that serve “low-income and historically marginalized communities.” The award was given to support his ambitious vision to scale up MVM’s programs with a new center in historically underserved East Portland that is in the final stages of development, and MVM ACROSS OREGON an initiative to bring MVM programs to residential facilities and community centers through a network of rural teaching artists delivering trauma-informed music instruction.

Receiving the Lewis Prize was a huge accomplishment that gave Ian a chance to reflect on his life’s work and create a blueprint for the future. It was important to Ian to include the many voices of MVM in the video, including staff, students and parents and serves as a testament to the thriving community he built over 13 years.

How to Support

Friends of Ian have organized a GoFundMe to support Ian’s wife, Karen, and son, Jude (6).Gifts to support Karen and Jude can be made here:

Donations to My Voice Music in honor of Ian’s work to continue his vision can be made here:

We love and miss you, Ian.

Let it be.