Robert Lewis

Voice part: Bass

Season you joined the Chorale: 1991

Birthplace: Bismarck, ND

Education/Vocal Training: Hamline University, St. Paul, MN; Studied 2 yrs voice with Gertrude Gruenberg in San Francisco CA

Do you make your living as a musician? No

Where else do you gig/teach/conduct/sing/perform? While in college, sang in barbershop quartet which performed on radio and made early TV commercial in 1950 for Mn/St Paul moving company. Quartet also appeared with Burl Ives on Radio program in Minneapolis in 1951. Sang Fauré Requiem baritone solo under Roger Wagner at UC Berkeley in 1955. Sang bass/baritone lead in La Serva Padrona in a month-long weekends-only engagement at Hungry I in SF in 1955. Many solo gigs - Mozart Requiem, Haydn Creation, Bach works including Jesus in B Minor Mass. Soloist for Orange Co Master Chorale, many LA area churches and 51 years at Leo Baeck Temple in West LA. Messiah soloist numerous times in LA/Orange Co churches and with LAMC at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Have sung in over 27 movies as background singer. Have performed in Prague, Nuremberg, Fairbanks AL, San Antonio and NYC in past 10 years. Sang as member of professional chorale at Carmel Bach Festival each summer 1993 through 2002.

What else do you do as a “day job”? After 26 years, I retired from Lockheed Corp. in 1991 as Supervisor of International Import/Export Traffic and since have spent my time in a singing career and golfing.

Where else do you sing NOW?: Music leader – Classic Praise service at 1st Christian Church in Huntington Beach CA; “ringer” with several LA based groups.

Recordings/TV/Film: Background singer on CDs for Julie Andrews’ The King and I ; LeAnn Rimes’ Christmas album; gospel singer Fred Frank & several others including the original chorus for Crystal Cathedral Glory of Christmas production; background singer in 27 movies and on camera in License to Wed ; appeared as part of LAMC group on the Grammy Awards; background singer for several Michael Crawford Concerts & with Young Americans in a Tarbell production in 2007-2008.

Highlights of your musical career: Singing under the baton’s of many great maestros including Salonen, Mehta, Williams, Rattle, Weill and especially under Paul Salamunovich, who auditioned me in 1991 and accepted me as part of the LAMC. Most all of my professional singing engagements since that time were a result of that opportunity. I am also beholden to Grant Gershon, who has no peer as a consummate musician in preparing/conducting choral and orchestra concerts. It has been a privilege to be under his leadership over the past few years.

Favorite choral work: Bach B Minor Mass

A defining moment or favorite onstage experience: Final chorus scene in El Niño at Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) in NYC

What are you listening to these days?: Any of the current music being sung by LAMC. Also some country/western because I love the lyrics.

Anything you’d like to add about yourself?: I have had a wonderful musical journey with the voice that God has provided me. My education, married life and workplace abilities are, I believe, due to His granting me all the experiences.