Ellie Isenhart

Ellie Isenhart, Director, joined the Youth Music Project board in 2026. Growing up in Iowa, Ellie had the privilege of trying many different instruments (piano, violin, clarinet, bass clarinet, percussion) through both school programs and private lessons. 

During graduate school in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Ellie worked with arts programs dedicated to bringing art and music opportunities to marginalized communities, including the Alabama Prison Arts & Education Program, Blackbelt 100 Lenses, and the Alabama Blues Project.

Since finishing graduate school and moving to Oregon in 2014, Ellie has worked to build community, whether that’s gardening with the intent to share with the neighborhood or fostering high-risk shelter dogs (25 so far!).

Other work:

• Western Australian Shepherd Rescue, volunteer and foster

• Agave Dog Rescue, volunteer 

• Fur Love Haven, volunteer and foster

• Oregon Humane Society, foster