From the Director
Dear CMS Friends:
In our 2020 – 2021 year, Community Music School faced significant challenges from the Covid-19 pandemic, but as you will learn in this newsletter, we still had a very successful year. We pivoted to online programming to stay safe and connected. Most important, we focused on our post-Covid future, to ensure that the School will thrive as we build back, relaunch ensembles, and reopen our building.
At my suggestion, our Board of Directors again convened its Strategic Direction Task Force, with representatives from the Board, community, students, staff, and faculty. Our goal was to discern the strategy and objectives that will best support our mission, vision, and values in 2021 and beyond. The Board then approved five new strategic objectives: Enhancing the visibility of CMS; increasing diversity across our board, faculty and staff; expanding partnerships; broadening our student base through new programming; and ensuring our financial sustainability, both now and post-Covid. Click here for details on these objectives.
I am happy to report that as CMS begins its 40th year, our team is fully focused on achieving these objectives. Our digital recording studio and technology lab, funded in part through a record-setting $75,000 grant, is now under construction and supports all five objectives. With this amazing initiative that includes 10 iMac computers and innovative software, we expect scores of new students of all ages to attend new classes at CMS to learn music composition, digital audio and video recording, mixing, sound engineering, and editing. In short, thanks to generous support from you and our other donors, CMS is rebuilding – reinvigorating our programs, reimagining our “new normal,” and sustaining our mission.
Thank you for your support!
Jeff Reed, Executive Director
Community Music School Lehigh Valley & Berks
In This Issue
- Music Keeps Us Connected During COVID
- Strategic Objectives for 2021 & Beyond
- Presser Funds Recording Studio
- Brunch in a Bag Fundraiser
- Original Student Compositions
- Continuing Lessons as an Adult
- Welcome Jonathan Leeds
- Cliff Tracy Helps Keep the Funk Alive
- Teachers “On Broadway” on YouTube
- Women in Music Lecture-Recital Series
- Student Performs in All-Eastern Band Virtual Concert
- 2021 Senior Spotlight: Sabrina Collings, flute
- Former Student Receives Girl Scout Gold Award for Work at CMS
- Larry Johnson Retires, Carmen Flosdorf Elected President
- New Board Members Elected
- Preparing to Celebrate 40 Years
- City Arts Camp for Middle Schoolers at CMS
- CARES Act Deduction Benefit Extended
- Cincinnati Song Project Records in Baker Hall
- Event Rentals Starting Sept 1, 2021
- Staff Updates
- Pianos Find New Homes
- We Thank Our Supporters
- Save the Dates: Recitals & Events