Twana is a Portland native and graduate of the University of Oregon, where she studied Romance Languages. Her focus on learning Spanish and French took her to school in Mexico and Spain, but nowadays her focus is raising her son, who is now in high school. Her background in office administration while working in healthcare and banking has brought her to Montavilla Guitar Studio as a new front desk assistant to support our services to our clients. She has lived around Mt. Tabor and Montavilla during her childhood and adulthood and cares about this community. She played piano growing up and her Dad played guitar and her love of music and fostering that love of learning in young and old students alike is why she wanted to be part of our team.

Mary is a mom, grandma and has recently retired from thirty seven years as a respiratory therapist. Her interests include ceramics, gardening and sharing food and music with friends and family. Mary says that she loves “working in this amazing space! ” Mary is our assistant. You may see her helping out at the studio or during one of our concerts.

Karin is a native New Yorker who’s been living in Portland since 2010. An avid music lover raised in an artistic family, Karin has been composing poems and songs since she was a small child. As a young adult, she attended the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music where she studied voice and participated in jazz vocal performances and jazz/gospel choir. During her time in Portland, she has worked for various arts organizations and has continued to write on a regular basis. She enjoys singing karaoke.

Emet Harmon is a musician, teacher, and coordinator in and around Portland. Harmon (as they’re called around the studio) leverages years of teaching experience, group coordination know-how, and a roll-up-sleeves-and-get-involved volunteer attitude to foster a feeling of community right here at MGS.

Their time teaching students and leading bands has given them a uniquely keen insight into the particular needs of the musicians around the studio (both the ones teaching and the ones learning). This has allowed them to connect with everyone who comes down our hallway and give them a happy and fluid experience within our studio.

When not working at the studio, Harmon is engaging in systems of mutual aid, leading their band Golem Pink, toiling in the garden, and playing board games with their friends and neighbors. They love a challenging book just as much as a good episode of WWE, and seek out excitement wherever they can find it.

Neil Mattson is an arts leader, entrepreneur, and educator dedicated to advancing arts and culture within his community. As the Founding Executive Director of Montavilla Jazz, Neil has been a driving force in supporting and elevating Portland’s jazz scene for over a decade. His strategic vision has brought arts programming to neighborhood schools, bridging gaps in music programming, and serving hundreds of students.

Neil’s extensive experience as a private music instructor showcases his dedication to individualized learning, having taught more than 25,000 lessons. As the founder and CEO of Montavilla Guitar Studio, Neil has impacted thousands of students and facilitated the professional growth of numerous music teachers. In his role as a business leader and President of the Montavilla East Tabor Business Association, he is actively engaged with the Montavilla community.

With a solid background in business management and marketing, Neil has excelled in developing both nonprofit and for-profit organizational systems. Throughout his work in the Montavilla neighborhood, Neil’s relationships within the community have flourished, a testament to his communication and community organizing skills.