History:
Martha Maletz and four music teachers, Beatrice Allen, Jean Fox, Judith Moyer and Marilyn Pinschmidt founded Community Music School in 1981. It became incorporated as a non-profit music education organization on November 9, 1981. A Board of Directors was formed and Frank Cella, Chrysler First, was named the first president. The first formal board meeting was held on January 18, 1982, and Martha Maletz was named Executive Director.

The school opened operations at St. John's Lutheran Church Educational Building on September 8, 1982. In its first year CMS had a faculty of seven and an enrollment of thirty-eight, and offered instruction in piano and voice. Monthly recitals were held, with a special Gala Recital being given in June where certificates of accomplishment were awarded. Scholarships and financial aid during this first year totaled $5,604, helping 58% of the student body.

During the first years of operation, CMS offered only private instruction in piano and voice. Today, CMS serves nearly 1,000 students annually in private and group instruction in most every instrument as well as voice in our headquarter location, the Fowler Education Wing of Allentown Symphony Hall, at the Macungie Institute, Rte. 100, Macungie, and through various outreach programs after-school throughout the community. Lessons are available 48 of 52 weeks each year. Thirty plus professional musicians, CMS educators, some of the Lehigh Valley’s finest musicians, are today employed by CMS. CMS distributes financial aid and scholarship assistance to those financially in need. In addition, numerous outreach programs, off-site, and tuition free, support the needs of youngsters and adults who, either due to physical or mental challenges, or those most academically at-risk of failure, and who are unable to attend lessons on our campus, are available.

Students continue to be a diverse group. Ages of our students are varied; the youngest students begin music enrichment through ‘mom & me’ classes. Youngsters at the age of four or five begin music study in piano or violin. Lower, middle, and high school students take advantage of our many program offerings which include coaching sessions for entry into or with help in auditioning in plays, schools and Colleges. So too, adults and our vibrant senior population rediscover the music they once enjoyed. Diversity continues. There is diversity of music study—there is diversity of ethnicity—and there is diversity of household income. Males and females are evenly represented among our students.

National Guild for Community Arts Education:
Community Music School became a Full Certified Member of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. in 1985. Institutional membership in the Guild is by election and is based on the credentials of each organization, its Board and administrative structure, and the effectiveness of its educational programs in the community in which it is located. Its membership is widely represented.

Outreach:
Community Music School has administered numerous outreach programs in the Allentown community since its founding. Students perform, or have performed, for residents in such places as Cedarbrook, Good Shepherd, Phoebe Home, and Luther Crest, as well as for service organizations. They have provided music for the Allentown Literacy Council graduations and organizations like Rotary Club of Allentown West. Other performances include: Musikfest ; Mayfair; Harry’s Day in the Park; Wegman’s Market; Allentown Public Library; South Mall. We have, or have had, outreach programs for elementary schools in Allentown and Bethlehem, Bangor High School, residents of Good Shepherd, the Boys and Girls Club of Allentown, the Girls' Club of Allentown, Mercy Special Learning Center, Daybreak, cityspace daycare center, San Martin De Porres Church, Mosser Elementary School, and The Children's Home of Easton. Our teachers perform with the Allentown Symphony, the Pennsylvania Sinfonia, Bach Choir, and Camerata Singers. During the years, our performing choruses have been featured with these groups as well. Vocal students have performed in local productions at Muhlenberg Summer Theater, Civic Little Theater, Munopco and numerous area high school musicals.

Overview:
A recent study by the National Endowment for the Arts, as reported in an article decrying the lack of good instruction in the arts in the public schools, gives the following four goals for basic education in the arts: To understand civilization; to develop creativity; to learn the tools of communication; and to develop the capacity for making wise choices among the products of the arts. Community Music School supplements and compliments the programs in the public schools. It fosters the four goals and provides the means for all to attain them.