20 Voices is the brainchild of private voice teacher Darcy Dillon and vocal student Sheila Rittenberg. Together, they created a concert to raise money for Ethos, an Oregon-based non-profit that brings music education to underserved youth.

The event will be held on November 10th from 3 – 5 pm at the Aladdin Theater, 3017 SE Milwaukie Ave., Portland, Oregon. Tickets: $20/$15 students & seniors. For More information, please visit: www20voices.org.

Veteran musicians Blacke Sakamoto, Kevin Selfe, and the band Whistlin’ Rufus have been recruited to mentor and perform with the vocal student performers. “The opportunity for our students to learn from and perform with these experienced musicians is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Jedidiah Chavez, Executive Director for Ethos. “This is the perfect opportunity to give the singers a taste of what it’s like to perform professionally,” said event Co-Founder Darcy Dillon. “Practice and voice lessons are great, but there’s nothing like a real performance with a paid audience and seasoned musicians backing you,”

Blake Sakamoto honed his keyboard chops playing in local rock and pop bands in the 80s, eventually teaming up with the Dan Reed Network. As a member of the band, Sakamoto toured the world – opening for the Rolling Stones and Bon Jovi. He also leads the band Nu Wave Machine, and is a featured performer in the party band, Hit Machine.

Kevin Selfe has dedicated his life to the blues, playing venues throughout the Pacific Northwest. He and his band, the Tornadoes, have won numerous awards from the Cascade Blues Association, including the prestigious Muddy Award, and been inducted into the CBA’s Hall of Fame.

Whistlin’ Rufus’s knack for clever arrangements, three and four part vocal harmonies, original ballads and toe tapping fiddle tunes have made the genre bending band a hit at festivals, smaller venues and private gatherings throughout the region.

About Ethos: Founded in 1998, Ethos is a 501(c)3 that provides music lessons, multicultural performances and workshops to more than 7,000 students a year. The organization is built on the tenant that all kids, regardless of socioeconomic status or geographic location, deserve access to music education. The President’s Commission on the Arts and Humanities has named Ethos one of the top 50 after-school arts programs in the U.S. five times since 2003.