Portland musician Lizzy Ellison, Camas High choir students join forces for unique music experience, featuring Brazilian beats and personal lyrics * Oregon ArtsWatch

"“They are overjoyed on those days,” said Ethan Chessin, the Camas High music teacher who pairs choir members with professional industry musicians on special projects to conceptualize, create, and share works each year. “I've had students tell me the only reason they want to come to choir is because they get to work with Lizzy. They've connected to her, and she's connected with them.”"

"“It's definitely not lucrative, but you can't pay for those kind of things,” she said. Ellison feels the same way, calling the work a “life-changing experience” after years of teaching kids and adults about music. She previously played in the Portland band Radiation City and Cardioid, and now leads her own trio and record label."

"Ellison and the 170-person Camas choir have been working on Brazilian-themed music since September 2025, and it'll be showcased in a live-recording event 7 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at Revolution Hall in Southeast Portland. The E. Ellison Trio, which includes bassist Joni Mueller and percussionist Alex Radakovich, will perform as the Camas voices sing the 16 songs that they have been developing. Ellison's label Doe Records will produce a digital album, and later a vinyl album."

"The title of the work is “Origins/Origens.” Making the songs involved E. Ellison's Brazilian music, and Ellison taking submissions from students about their thoughts on life, basically, for lyrics. Students input their lyrics into a program, which Ellison (and student Williams Chung-Hoon) monitored and came forth to work with students during school music classes"

Camas High School students anticipate special music days when professional musician Elisabeth “Lizzy” Ellison enters the music room. The Camas High music teacher pairs choir members with industry musicians to conceptualize, create, and share works each year, and students value the connection with Ellison. Ellison, who leads her own trio and record label after work in Portland bands, describes extensive teaching and collaboration as life-changing despite not being lucrative. The 170-person choir has developed Brazilian-themed music since September 2025 for a live-recording event on May 9 at Revolution Hall in Portland. The E. Ellison Trio will perform while the choir sings 16 songs, and Doe Records will release a digital album followed by a vinyl album. Students will also travel to Los Angeles for a May 30 performance at The Pico Union Project.

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