Leadership
Staff:
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, Operations Coordinator. 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. They have been working in Human Resources for over two years, hiring, onboarding and managing employees for a local Target store. Maia joined the board in November 2022, worked as the chorus manager for almost 2 years, and is now our Operations Director. 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:
Rachel Bancroft, Board Chair. (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 themselves. Rachel started volunteering with Bridging Voices as a grant writer in January 2023, joined the board in November 2023 and is 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.
Erik Gulliickson, Vice Chair. (he/him) A natural collaborator and problem-solver, Erik brings leadership and adaptability to every role, with experience spanning nonprofits, tech startups, and large corporations. He previously served as the Artistic Director of Bridging Voices from August 2015 to May 2022, helping to create a safe space for youth to discover their authentic voices through a shared love of music and the performing arts. He has recently returned to the organization, first as Interim Artistic Director, and now Vice-Chairperson. An active performer, teacher, coach, and conductor in opera, theater, and concert productions, Erik brings passion and artistry to every facet of his work.
Anna Phillips, Treasurer. (she/her) Anna became involved with Bridging Voices in 2025, when her child joined the choir. It has been a joy to see her child thrive in the choir and feel empowered to express themselves. Anna joined the board in 2025 to help ensure this amazing group can continue and be supported. She has experience volunteering at local food pantries and has worked in low income housing for seniors and people with disabilities for 14 years. She has grown a lot as a parent and LBGTQ+ advocate, and now encourages other parents to support and celebrate their queer kids. Anna lives in Sherwood with her family.
Susannah Axelrod, Secretary. (she/her) Susannah has more than 20 years of experience building and leading product teams for B2B software companies including Intuit, Thomson Reuters, Verizon, Puppet and Sauce Labs. With an MBA from Wharton, she understands both the executive perspective and the mechanics of product, UX and developer teams. Susannah has been a fractional product leader, consultant and advisor for diverse software companies since 2023. She has sung in classical and acapella choirs for decades, and is currently a soprano singing with two choirs in Portland's Blueprint Arts organization. As a parent of a choir member and an advocate for the rights of LGBTQ+ kids, Susannah joined the Bridging Voices board in June 2025.
Cristina Vanderburgh, Fundraising. (she/her) Cristina brings a wealth of professional experience from her career in accounting, IT, and business consulting, including serving as IT Security Manager for Columbia Sportswear before retiring. A long-time supporter of Bridging Voices since its founding—when her husband Reid served on the inaugural board—Cristina’s passion for queer+ youth advocacy is deeply personal. Her daughter Maggie, a founding member of her high school GSA, and the teenage transman she and Reid welcomed into their chosen family have inspired her commitment to creating safe, affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth. In addition to her community work, Cristina enjoys learning to sing, play the ukulele, and speak Chinese. She believes providing a safe place for queer youth to sing, connect, and belong is life-saving, and is dedicated to helping the chorus thrive.
Drew Hogan, Board Member. (he/him) Drew brings a creative spirit, a love of music, and a deep commitment to inclusion and liberation as an ally and advocate. Before moving to Portland in 2021, he was an audience member and performer with sibling Queer/Ally Youth Choruses in Seattle and Nashville. With experience in audio/video, fundraising, and working with young people, Drew is energized to support Bridging Voices. He currently serves as a United Methodist pastor at a church in SE Portland and works across the Pacific Northwest with youth to co-create spaces of belonging. Prior to ministry, Drew earned a degree in French Horn performance. While you won’t hear him play horn these days, you’ll likely hear him playing guitar on the porch, sawing through a woodworking project, or sipping a good light roast coffee.
ongoing thanks for generous service:
Mark Clift, CPA, Director of Finance.
Sharon Lamoreaux, Bookkeeper.
Evan C. Paul, Principal Pianist.