A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Jordan Reed is the Director of Artistic Operations for The American Pops Orchestra, where he leads the planning and execution of the organization's artistic programming and nationally recognized education initiatives. He oversees the development and management of APO's orchestral productions, legacy educational programming, and the development of new initiatives, helping expand APO’s mission of building community through music.
Drawing on years of experience as both a professional musician and educator, Jordan develops innovative artistic and educational experiences that support emerging musicians and strengthen communities through the arts. Through his leadership, he has helped create and produce acclaimed programs including Broadway’s Leading Ladies, Unforgettable: A Tribute to Nat King Cole, The Three Broadway Tenors, Carole King’s Tapestry (reimagined with MORGXN), Movin’ on Broadway, and a celebration of the music of Dionne Warwick. Jordan has also produced concerts at some of the nation's most iconic cultural institutions, including the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian, Town Hall NYC, the Library of Congress, the historic Winterthur Museum, DAR Constitution Hall, and Longwood Gardens.
Prior to joining The American Pops Orchestra, Jordan served as Co-Chair of the Edward E. MacTaggart Department of Music at Marietta College and Adjunct Professor of Saxophone at Ohio University. During his time in higher education, he maintained an active career as a concert saxophonist, chamber musician, composer, and clinician. His compositions for solo saxophone, saxophone duo, and saxophone ensemble continue to be performed throughout the United States, Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom. Jordan was also proud to serve as Chair of the Honors Jazz Ensemble for the Ohio Private College Instrumental Conductors Association. In addition to his roles at Marietta College and Ohio University, he taught at Ohio Dominican University and Otterbein College while maintaining a private saxophone studio.
In his free time, Jordan can be found in/around the DMV (probably exploring a new part of the city with his wife). If you see Jordan in public, at a performance, or anywhere really, he'll talk your ear off about coffee, his daily vitamin/supplement intake, and/or the importance of finding your go-to flavor(s) of sparkling water.
Jordan holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees in Saxophone Performance from Ohio University and is ABD in Saxophone Performance at The Ohio State University. To hear Jordan, please check out his discography page.
Jordan is proud to be a MACSAX, SYOS, and Bambu Ligatures Performing Artist.