Photo Caption: President Michael Yeager (left) with the newest member of the Community Music School Board of Directors, Nanditha Mudigonda (right).
Allentown, PA (June 17, 2025) – Community Music School – Lehigh Valley & Berks (CMS) Community Music School is pleased to announce that Nanditha Mudigonda was elected to a three-year term on the CMS Board of Directors by an unanimous vote on June 6, 2025. Mudigonda will serve a three-year term with the 43-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.
Mudigonda is Head of Enterprise Portfolio at Guardian Life Insurance, where she leads planning and governance activities for the company’s $150MM portfolio. She brings over 22 years of experience in strategic initiatives, results-driven management, and transformational thought leadership to the CMS Board. Mudigonda resides in Upper Macungie Township with her husband, Rakesh Gope, and their two daughters, Ananya and Maanya, who are each longtime CMS students in violin and voice, respectively.
In her words, “We feel fortunate to be part of CMS. I have learned the importance of providing children with resources outside of school to develop skills that they can treasure for years to come. I love CMS’s approach in ensuring that students are the central focus of everything they do. It’s been great to see the diversity in talent grow year over year. The amazing faculty and staff continually work on providing new learning and performance opportunities to our young musicians. It is my privilege to be further involved as a board member and contribute to the mission of CMS.”
CMS Board of Directors President Michael Yeager officially welcomed Mudigonda to the Board at its annual meeting on June 9. In the same meeting, the Board recognized the retirement of longtime Director and current Vice President, James Warfel, Ed.D. with a special luncheon. Executive Director Jeff Reed presented Warfel with a photo collage plaque in honor of his 13+ years of service to Community Music School. John Wittenbraker, Ph.D., Social and Behavioral Scientist was elected to succeed Warfel as Vice President.
The CMS Board’s Officers for the 2025-2026 fiscal year are President: Michael Yeager, Retired CEO, Community Insurance Company; Vice President: John Wittenbraker, Ph.D., Social and Behavioral Scientist; Treasurer: Tom Fenstermacher, Retired CFO, Hospital Central Services, Inc.; Secretary: Mark Stein, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Muhlenberg College. Directors: Michael Horvath, Esq., Attorney, Gross McGinley LLP; Gregory Kuhn, President & CEO, Omega Protective Services, LLC; Mary Hahn, Healthcare Executive; David Livert, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Penn State Lehigh Valley; Kathleen Matthews, Retired Sr. Director of Business Ethics & Compliance, PPL; Bill Moyer, President, West Region & Allentown Campus, St. Luke’s University Health Network; Nanditha Mudigonda, Head of Enterprise Portfolio, Guardian Life; Elyse Pillitteri, Esq., Shareholder, Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C; Vance Powers, Chief Financial Officer, Long Ridge Energy Terminal; Vicki Ferrence Ray, Non-Profit Executive & Consultant; Dail Richie, Retired Executive Director, Berks Youth Chorus & CMS faculty member; Ellen Roberts, Retired Volunteer & Community Activist; David Yeager, Retired Assistant Vice President, Guardian Life Insurance. Faculty Representative: Joe Wagner, CMS teacher of guitar, composition, & recording.
About CMS: About CMS: Community Music School (CMS) – Lehigh Valley & Berks is a nonprofit charitable organization that provides the inspiration and opportunity for anyone in our diverse community to achieve excellence in music education and appreciate the transformative power of music. Our professional teachers provide private lessons, group classes, and summer camps to students of all ages, from toddlers to seniors, in piano, strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, voice, and recording technology; both in-person and online. Thanks to support from our philanthropic community for over 43 years, CMS has provided students in the Lehigh Valley with the life-long benefits of a quality music education and free performance opportunities. Our main office and studios are located in the former Lehigh Valley Social Club at historic 1544 Hamilton Street in Allentown, PA where we offer 14 lesson rooms of varying sizes, a unique parent lounge, early childhood room, music library, administrative offices, state-of-the-art recording studio, and a 150-seat recital hall. Our CMS Berks satellite studio is located in Reading, PA at GoggleWorks Center for the Arts. Learn more at http://cmslv.org/.
Information provided to TVL by:
Lisa M. Hopstock Kulp
