Leadership

Lyndsey Westgaard, Executive Director. Lyndsey (she/her) is an Oregon native with a heart for community and adventure. She loves to travel and cherishes moments with family and friends. With over 15 years in the nonprofit sector, Lyndsey is thrilled to dive into the impactful initiatives at Bridging Voices. As Executive Director, she looks forward to contributing to the support and empowerment of LGBTQ youth in our community. Lyndsey has served as the first Bridging Voices Executive Director since January 2024.

DeReau K. Farrar, Artistic Director. DeReau (he/him/his) was a fan of Bridging Voices long before being hired as our AD! DeReau is the Director of Music at First Unitarian Church of Portland and President for the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries. He’s also worked with the Portland Revels and Resonance Ensemble. Prior to moving to Portland in 2016, he worked in Los Angeles with A Noise Within (The Threepenny Opera, A Christmas Carol), DC6 Singers (SxSW, Jessye Norman’s Stand Up Straight and Sing! Tour, Sundance, Norman Lear, Michael Abels, Jerry Kohl), Monkeypaw Productions (Get Out), HBO (All the Way), Selah Gospel Choir (Coachella, RuPaul’s DragCon), MUSE/IQUE Symphony Orchestra, The RED Stamp (The Wiz, Ragtime, Songs for a New World), Epic Megalopolis Productions (JUNK! A Rock Opera), The Verdi Chorus, the University of California Los Angeles (The First Lady), California State University Los Angeles (A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum), New Roads School (Guys and Dolls), a bunch of churches he’s proud of and a few he’s not, plus some other folks. DeReau has served as the Bridging Voices Artistic Director since August 2022.

Maia Estes, Chorus Manager. Maia (she/her/hers and they/them/theirs) joined the chorus originally in 2015 and quickly grew in as a singer and a leader. She was one of the first singers to take on a leadership role in the chorus, working closely with the Artistic Director to manage singers, music and choir practice routines. They later left the choir in 2018 after the Raise Your Voice concert to focus on their career. She spent the next 4 years working in a national retail chain, traveling, and being with her family. Maia joined the board in November 2022. She served on the Bridging Voices Board of Directors to lend her expertise in Human Resources. They have been working in Human Resources for over two years, hiring, onboarding and managing employees for a local Target store. Giving back to an organization that has added so much to her life and the lives of so many LGBTQIA+ youth is an honor.  

board of directors:

Heidi Esbensen, Board Chair. Heidi (she/her/hers) is a sociology professor with a focus on the sociology of gender and sexuality. Heidi is a single parent to two kids, and her eldest is a singer with Bridging Voices. Through volunteering with after-school programs, co-directing music theatre club and more, Heidi has brought music exposure and performance opportunities to many students with limited access to those experiences. Heidi has worn many hats over her time with Bridging Voices. She joined the board in May 2018, then left the following year to take the staff position of administration assistant. She returned to the board in January 2021, and also served as temporary Artistic Director, on a volunteer basis, March-June, 2021. She was elected Secretary In October 2021, and Board Chair in August 2022.

Ian Morton, Board Treasurer. Ian (he/him) is thrilled to call Portland “home” after spending twenty-three years in San Diego, CA. Having already seen the activist and advocacy spirit in which the Portland community comes together, Ian is excited to serve as executive director at Q Center, and build robust collaborative partnerships between the community center and the many organizations fighting for - and alongside - intentionally sidelined communities. A 2020 graduate of San Diego State University, he brings to Bridging Voices a specific passion to elevate the voices of youth in the LGBTQ2SIA+ community and to help build a culture of mentorship and community connection within the chorus. Ian joined the board in March 2022 and was elected treasurer in July 2023.

Elliott Orrin Hinkle, Board Secretary. Elliott (they/them/theirs) is a skilled facilitator, trainer, and advisor focused on elevating lived expertise in systems that serve children, youth, and families locally and nationally. They are a graduate of Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Women, Gender, Sexuality, and Queer studies. As an advocate and professional they bring 10 years’ experience on topics such as Child Welfare, Youth Mental Health, and the Queer and Trans community through training, advising, and facilitating culture change efforts aimed at increasing positive experiences for youth impacted by systems. They have assisted and participated in child welfare and youth mental health research, they actively work to reduce barriers to access to care for LGBTQ youth and families and are trained in evidence-based youth peer coaching. Elliott is the Principal and Founder of the consulting firm Unicorn Solutions LLC which seeks to create positive futures for youth and young adults impacted by systems such as Child Welfare and Youth Mental Health, particularly at the intersections of LGBTQ youth within these systems. Elliott grew up performing in elementary and middle school choir and band, as well as high school and college band. Elliott joined the board in November 2021, and was elected secretary in September 2022.

Isa Kellett, Board Member. Isa (she/her/hers) began volunteering with Bridging Voices after seeing the chorus perform with Rise Up, in March of 2019. Since then, she has worked with the Marketing Committee on several projects including our website relaunch. Her professional experience includes digital marketing, brand strategy, and product development at companies ranging from Nike to a small healthcare startup. She is currently the Director of Product at Indeed Hire. In her free time, she and her wife explore Portland's endless food scene and try to train their two stubborn terriers to obey basic commands. Isa joined the board in February 2020, and served as chair from September 2020-August 2022.

Jade Rubick, Board Member. Jade (he/him/his) was a parent volunteer for two years before joining the board. Jade's profession is to advise software startups on leadership, product development, and building effective organizations. He founded and served as president of a nonprofit for fifteen years. It focused on equity for all people affected by domestic violence, including underserved LGBTQIA+ survivors. Jade is thrilled to be able to support Bridging Voices and the community and sense of belonging it provides for LGBTQIA+ youth. Jade joined the board in August 2021.

Pascal Tower, Board Member. Pascal (all pronouns) has sung in choruses and in stage productions since childhood. Joining Bridging Voices, they found opportunities to sing in the main chorus, and also the audition ensemble, Suspensions. And they were selected to represent Bridging Voices at the 2020 GALA Choruses Leadership Symposium. Pascal appreciates that, in addition to concerts and music, Bridging Voices exists as a fulfilling space LGBTQIA+ youth. And they have committed themselves to the Youth Leadership team, which organizes group social activities and artistic endeavors to make BV warm and welcoming. Pascal's leadership resulted in an invitation to be on the board, in order to facilitate better understanding and communication between the BOD and the youth. Pascal began singing with Bridging Voices in 2016 and joined the board in February 2021.

Rachel Bancroft, Board Member. Rachel (she/her) became involved with Bridging Voices in 2019, when her non-binary child joined the choir. It has been a joy to see her child thrive in the choir and feel empowered to express themself. Rachel started volunteering with Bridging Voices as a grant writer in January 2023 and became a board member in November 2023. She has experience volunteering with Girl Scouts of Oregon and SW Washington, Portland Society for Calligraphy, schools that her kids attend, and Mama Dragons (a non-profit that supports and empower mothers of LGBTQ children). She has grown a lot as a parent and LBGTQ+ advocate, and now encourages other parents to support and celebrate their queer kids. Rachel lives in Portland and is an artist and calligrapher with a life-long passion for the arts.

Jeffrey Chapman, Board Member. Jeffrey (he/him/his) started his career as a performing orchestral musician. With a pandemic raging outside his front door, Jeffrey quickly realized a life performing wasn't what fulfilled him most from the music world. After a few years of exploring new creative outlets including reading, sewing, writing, and sketching, he is returning to music to serve on the board at BV. Jeffrey is grateful to take part in bringing joy and sharing music with BV youth. These days you can find him biking along the waterfront, even on rainy days. Jeffrey joined the Bridging Voices board in March 2024.

Maya Trabin, Board Member. Maya (she/her/hers) is a queer writer and strategist working to build new possibilities through narrative change. In her work as a communications consultant, she collaborates with nonprofits and foundations building a more equitable, sustainable world. Maya is the proud parent of two amazing school-aged kids and one clingy rescue dog. In a political climate where the rights and safety of LGBT+ youth are being eroded, she is thrilled to support spaces that center queer joy. (Her own singing is limited to the shower.) Maya joined the Bridging Voices board in March 2024.

ongoing thanks for generous service:

Mark Clift, CPA, Director of Finance.

Sharon Lamoreaux, Bookkeeper.

Evan C. Paul, Principal Pianist.