Photo Caption: Former CMS Executive Director Jeff Reed (L) and incoming CMS Executive Director Dr. Deborah Justice (R).
CMS Welcomes New Executive Director Dr. Deborah Justice as Longtime Executive Director Jeff Reed Retires
Allentown, PA (July 30, 2026) – Community Music School – Lehigh Valley & Berks (CMS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Deborah Justice as its new Executive Director. Dr. Justice officially began her role on Monday, July 27, and succeeds longtime Executive Director Jeff Reed.
As long planned, Reed retired from his full-time position as Executive Director on June 30. He remains with CMS on a temporary contract basis to work closely with Dr. Justice to ensure a smooth leadership transition for the 44-year-old Allentown nonprofit that provides the access and inspiration for anyone in our diverse community to achieve excellence in music education and appreciate the transformative power of music.
Reed joined Community Music School in 2015, following the retirement of former CMS Director Carolyn Clarke. Prior to CMS, Reed enjoyed a 20-year career in the wireless data and messaging industry at Metrocall, Inc., followed by several years in the nonprofit world as Director of Strategic Alliances at AARP’s national office in Washington, D.C. and as Founding Executive Director of Mount Vernon At Home, Inc. in Alexandria, Virginia. He holds a Bachelor of Arts, with honors, from Dartmouth College and is a lifelong choral singer.
Over the last 11 years, Reed’s steady leadership and investment efficient systems allowed CMS to increase private lesson enrollment from approximately 150 students to over 300 today, expand group class offerings, including a state-of-the-art recording studio, and introduce innovative programming focused on students with learning differences. He helped guide these accomplishments and more, all while overseeing the move of the school from the second floor of Miller Symphony Hall on Sixth Street to its current home at 1544 Hamilton Street in 2018 and emerging successfully from the fallout of the COVID pandemic shutdown in 2020. Former CMS Board Member Jim Warfel, who headed the search committee that ultimately recruited and hired Reed in 2015, says that the “best aspect of my service to CMS was leading the search committee that resulted in Jeff’s hiring.” Assistant Director, Marketing & Communications, Lisa Kulp shared that “having the opportunity to work under Jeff’s thoughtful guidance to further the mission of CMS will always be a highlight of my career journey. Nonprofit work, especially in an arts organization as dynamic as CMS, is a unique challenge and Jeff always handled even the most difficult of situations with quiet thoughtfulness and humility. I will always be grateful for the opportunity to learn from his unwavering example.”
Reflecting on his time at CMS, Reed said:
“When I was a young boy and flew overseas often because of my dad’s career as a U.S. diplomat, I decided I wanted to be a steward when I grew up. I admired the stewards on the airliners because their roles were to keep the passengers safe, protect the airline’s reputation and assets, and kindly serve others. For the last 11+ years, I have served as the steward of Community Music School, and I have derived great joy and meaning from my work fulfilling our unique and inspiring mission. As I retire, I sincerely thank our outstanding staff, teachers, board volunteers, and students for their support of my leadership over the last 11 years. Our amazing School is in very good hands with our newest steward, Dr. Deborah Justice, and I wish her every success going forward.”
In retirement, Reed looks forward to enjoying travel, arts, and genealogy research with his wife, The Rev. Elizabeth Hoffman Reed, and their two adult children. CMS extends its sincere appreciation to Reed for his more than a decade of dedicated service and welcomes Dr. Deborah Justice as she begins leading the organization into its next chapter.
Dr. Justice brings more than 20 years of experience in arts leadership, higher education, performance, and nonprofit management to CMS. Most recently, she served as Director of KU Presents!, Kutztown University’s presenting series. Previously, she spent 10 years as Director of the Concert Series at Cornell University. In addition to her work as an Arts Turnaround Consultant and grant writer, she has taught at institutions including Syracuse University and Yale University, designing courses across a wide range of musical and cultural topics while mentoring students from diverse backgrounds and fostering inclusive learning environments. She holds a Ph.D. in Ethnomusicology from Indiana University, a Master of Arts in Ethnomusicology from Wesleyan University, and dual bachelor’s degrees in Music and Middle Eastern Studies from the College of William & Mary. An accomplished musician, she also has experience teaching private lessons and performing on banjo and hammered dulcimer.
“I’m excited to start as Executive Director here at Community Music School of Lehigh Valley & Berks,” said Dr. Justice. “Making music has continually been central to my life, and I know how important access to musical education is to creating both well-rounded individuals and strong communities.”
Along with the CMS operations team of Operations Manager Jasmine Adamson, Program and Development Coordinator Kelly Hooper, and Operations Associates Pam Adamason and Aylor Scandola, Dr. Justice looks forward to furthering the mission of CMS through the lens of the Board-approved strategic objectives of Engagement, Evolution, Inclusion, Presence, and Sustainability with the vision for CMS to be recognized and valued as a collaborative partner and the accessible resource for excellence in music education within the community.
Learn more about Dr. Deborah Justice at https://www.deborahjustice.org/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdeborahjustice/.
Link to Web Version on CMS New Blog: https://cmslv.org/jeff-reed-retires-dr-justice-new-executive-director/
Information provided to TVL by:
Lisa Hopstock Kulp
