AME Church Leadership

Senior Pastor

The Reverend Dr. Steven Reeves is a man of faith and principle, as well as many talents. Born in Orange, New Jersey, he was raised as a Christian and baptized. Rev. Reeves received several scholarships to attend Central State University (CSU) in Wilberforce, Ohio, where he studied French Horn, one of the most challenging instruments to learn of the brass family and Piano. While at CSU, he received many awards for his scholarship and musicianship, including the Dean’s List Award and the prestigious Band Director’s Award. He aspired to be a band conductor, which he did for three consecutive years as the student conductor of the Central State University’s “Invincible Marching Marauders” Marching Band.  Rev. Reeves earned a Bachelor of Music Education (B.M.E.) Degree in 2005.

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Education

After graduating from Central State University, Rev. Reeves received a Graduate Assistantship to attend The Ohio State University School of Music (OSU) in Columbus, Ohio. Reeves continued his studies in French Horn and Piano. While at The Ohio State University, he was a hornist in OSU’s premier Ohio State University Orchestra and the elite Ohio State University Wind Symphony. Rev. Reeves also worked in the school’s Office of Minority Affairs Young Scholars Program (YSP). In 2008, Reeves received two degrees: the Master of Music Performance (M.M.) and Master of Arts in Music Education (M. A.).

Rev. Reeves competed and won a Doctoral Fellowship to attend Rutgers The State University of New Jersey in New Brunswick, New Jersey, preparing as a professional performer and conductor to work in conservatory teaching and research positions. His concentration was in French Horn and Pipe Organ performance. His research focused on the development and use of the Natural Horn for developing proficiency in the modern French Horn. 

Rev. Reeves presented his research several times to multiple audiences. In 2015, Reeves earned the coveted Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) degree. At present, he continues studies in pastoral ministry where he is currently a Master of Divinity student at the historic African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Payne Theological Seminary in Wilberforce, Ohio. 

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Music Performance

Rev. Reeves is a skilled musician with a Piano repertoire, including compositions by Brahms, Chopin, Mozart, Chopin, Debussy, and Ravel. His French Horn repertoire includes compositions from Strauss, Mozart, Hindemith, Schumann, Gliere, and Reynolds. His Organ repertoire consists of many sacred works by various composers. Rev. Reeves has performed several recitals and in many professional ensembles such as Sinfonietta Nova and, more recently, in Ohio’s Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra.

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Reeves is recognizable as an accomplished Music Teacher. He served as the Director of Bands at Orange High School (OHS) in Orange, New Jersey, for several years. While at OHS, Reeves was responsible for all of the administrative and musical aspects of the program. 

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Reeves reorganized the marching band in 2012 and renamed it the Orange High School Mighty Marching Tornadoes (OHS-MMT) as a “show-style” marching band. Further reformations occurred for the Orange High School Symphonic Band and the Orange High School Athletic Band. Under his tutelage, the Orange High School band program received several distinguished accolades and high ratings at New Jersey’s state and regional music festivals. The OHS-MMT Marching Band was one of the featured bands in the 2017 New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade. 

Rev. Reeves is currently the General Music teacher at Belle Haven Elementary School in Dayton, Ohio, teaching over 400 students in grades Kindergarten through Sixth-grade different aspects of Music such as Music Theory, Singing, and Note Reading. He also established and presently directs the Belle Haven Unified Chorus and the Belle Haven Orff Ensemble. 

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Gospel Ministry

Rev. Reeves Music Ministry preparations in Piano and Organ are quite diverse. His engagements include music ministry primarily within the AME church and other denominations. His services, for many years, were as Pianist and Organist for several churches mentionable below:  

• St. Luke AME Church (Newark, New Jersey)

• Good Shepherd Church of Christ Disciples of Christ (Newark, New Jersey) 

• Solid Rock Baptist Church (Patterson, New Jersey) 

• United AME Church (Xenia, Ohio) 

• Hilltop UMC (Columbus, Ohio) 

• St. Paul AME Church (Columbus, Ohio), 

• Mt. Zion AME Church (New Brunswick, New Jersey) 

• St. Paul United Methodist Church (Mt Holly, New Jersey)

• St. Ladislaus Hungarian Catholic Church (New Brunswick, New Jersey)

• Progressive Missionary Baptist Church (Cincinnati, Ohio) 

• Allen Chapel AME Church (North College Hill, Ohio) 

• St. Paul AME Church (Milford, Ohio), and

• St. Luke AME Church (Cincinnati, Ohio). 

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Rev. Reeves played the Pipe Organ for several Connectional AME services in the New Jersey Annual Conference. In Ohio, Reeves currently serves as the musician for the Cincinnati -Dayton district events and meetings in the AME Third Episcopal District.

Rev. Reeves has years of experience as a minister and pastor that includes him being a Licensed Minister at St. Paul AME Church in Columbus, Ohio. In New Brunswick, New Jersey, Reeves served as the Associate Minister at Mt. Zion AME Church. In 2016 he was ordained as an Itinerant Deacon in the New Jersey Annual Conference. He has since served as the Associate Minister at Allen Chapel AME Church in North College Hill, Ohio. In 2018, Reeves received his first appointment as the Pastor of St. Paul AME Church in Milford, Ohio. Currently, Rev. Reeves serves as the Pastor of St. Luke AME Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.  

Personal Life

Rev. Reeves is a member of several organizations, including the: National Education Association, Dayton Education Association, Ohio Education Association, American Choral Directors Association, National Band Association, National Association for Music Education, International Horn Society, Amalgamated Transit Union, Kappa Kappa Psi, and Alpha Phi Alpha. 

To add to his other skills and hobbies, Rev. Reeves also holds a Class- B Commercial Driver’s License, which he earned while employed as a Professional Bus Operator for the Southwest Ohio Regional Transit Authority/METRO (SORTA/METRO). He also sings in with the quartet singing group Wretched Undone, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Rev. Reeves is a family man. He is married to his best friend of almost 20 years and partner in the ministry, Beth (Mayfield) Reeves, an Opera Singer and School Teacher. Together they have three sons -- Sterling, Donovan, and Kevin.