Our Story
Community Music School (CMS) – Lehigh Valley & Berks is a non-profit charitable organization which provides the inspiration and opportunity for anyone in our diverse community to achieve excellence in music education and appreciate the transformative power of music. CMS employs over 25 professional musicians who provide high-quality private and group instruction to students of all ages and in nearly every instrument and voice, as well as extensive, tuition-free outreach programs that bring music to students in under-served, high-poverty schools. Thanks to support from our philanthropic community, CMS has provided over 25,000 student services in the Lehigh Valley with the life-long benefits of musical education by funding over $100,000 annually in financial aid, merit scholarships, and tuition-free outreach programming.
In the fall of 2018, CMS moved its Allentown operations to historic 1544 Hamilton Street, the former Lehigh Valley Club. The renovated space offers 12 lesson rooms of varying sizes, a unique parent lounge, early childhood room, music library, administrative offices, and a 150-seat recital hall. Introductory group classes, such as Kindermusik (ages 0-4), Kids Choir (ages 6-11), Modern Band (middle and high school) provide music fundamentals in a fun, group environment. The CMS Big Band offers numerous free performance opportunities for intermediate and advanced students. Learn more at cmslv.org.
CMS does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, age, creed, color, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, gender identity, disability, or level of family income in its education programs and admission, employment, and financial aid policies.
