BOSTON – Community Music Center of Boston embarks on a new chapter of its 116 year history, naming Dr. Ian Saunders as Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Saunders saw unanimous support from CMCB’s search committee and Board of Directors.
His appointment begins effective November 2, 2026.
Dr. Saunders joins CMCB at a transformative moment in the organization’s history. The $20 million Valuing All Voices Capital Campaign led the organization to a flagship new owned and operated facility in Nubian Square; provided the resources for a significant expansion of programming and deepening of impact; and emblazoned our identity even deeper into Boston’s civic life.
Among his first priorities will be the successful January 2027 opening of CMCB’s new Roxbury facility, the close-out to the final months of the capital campaign, and encapsulating the organization’s compelling public persona across our wide ranging services and lines of business. Over 2,000 students every week participate in our ecosystem of arts education, Music Therapy, workforce development, and 100+ performing events every year.
Reporting to CMCB’s 18-member Board of Directors and 60-member advisory board, Dr. Saunders will lead CMCB’s team of 20 full-time staff, 30 youth employees, and 35-member corps of faculty and Music Therapists.
Board President George Blount writes “CMCB is in a strategic position to take the lead in arts education, music therapy and music focused workforce development for the city of Boston and surrounding neighborhoods. We were in search of a leader that understands the position we are in, sees opportunities we have not identified, and shares the passion we have for music and the intrinsic value it provides for communities. I am thrilled to have Ian as the next leader of CMCB because of how well he aligns to our organizational values. Ian represents the perfect leader at the perfect time for CMCB and has the full support of the Board. “
Dr. Saunders’ charismatic and engaging presence positions him as an inspiring community leader. From his appearances on the Kelly Clarkson Show with Project STEP to performances with the Cleveland Orchestra or Cincinnati Symphony; narrating ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas’ with the Boston Pops, to performing alongside rock legends Kansas or dynamic Hip-Hop artist Thee Phantom—Dr. Saunders is an artistic and civic fixture from the stage to the corner office.
Co-chair of the search committee Pauline Dufresne writes: “Ian’s profile aligns strongly with the leadership requirements we established at the outset. We sought a strategic and highly relational leader who could champion excellence and equitable access in music education, lead through change, build trust across a broad range of stakeholders, strengthen CMCB’s organizational and financial foundation, and translate an ambitious vision into action. He combines authentic musical and educational credibility with strategic leadership, a strong people orientation, knowledge of Boston’s music community, and a clear commitment to the transformative power of music education.”
Most recently, Dr. Saunders was Artistic Director of acclaimed music education program Project STEP, an institution committed to providing comprehensive music instruction to young musicians from historically underrepresented communities in classical music.
“Ian brings a deep musical background and firsthand awareness of young musicians and their families. Ian truly understands the joy of learning to play an instrument from his own experience. I am looking forward to his tenure as CEO as part of bridging the gap between versatile opportunities in music and the predominately Black community of Roxbury.”
–Lorraine Payne Wheeler, Member, CMCB Board and the Roxbury Path Forward Neighborhood Association
During Dr. Saunders’ tenure at Project STEP, enrollment grew 36%, the organization secured major new 6- and 7-figure grants, net assets grew from $3 million to over $10 million, and the organization brokered innovative partnerships with institutions like the Boston Public Schools and Grammy award winning ensembles like the Boston Symphony Orchestra and A Far Cry.
“Few people have stopped me in my tracks the way that Ian has when he speaks about music education and its power to transform lives. The way he speaks and thinks offers language for the kind of feeling you have in your heart but don’t yet have words for. Leaders like Ian embody the best of what CMCB can mean as a civic hub.” Zach Sheets, Chief Advancement Officer.
Prior to his tenure at Project STEP, he played pivotal roles within the leadership teams of The Longy School of Music, where he held the position of Assistant Dean for Artistic and Social Change, and at The Eastern Music Festival, where he served as the Assistant Dean of Students.
Ian writes: “I’m honored by the Board’s confidence and grateful for the support of staff and faculty as I prepare to lead CMCB as CEO. I have admired the institution for years, and through my participation in the Sphinx LEAD program, I even examined CMCB as a case study and had the opportunity to learn from its leadership firsthand in ways that helped shape my own. I look forward to working alongside this community to build on CMCB’s extraordinary foundation and widen the possibilities that music can create for students, families, and Boston.”
CMCB’s Executive Search was led in partnership with Arts Consulting Group.
