This week’s episode of The Omnibus Show featured Chris Lewis, Executive Director of The Great American Songbook Foundation.
Lewis
Lewis assumed his role with the Songbook Foundation in 2017, after five years as Director of Programs. He oversees all the organization’s activities, including management of the Songbook Archives & Library, the Songbook Exhibit Gallery, the Songbook Hall of Fame, and all educational and outreach programming.
Lewis spoke of how he spearheaded the national expansion of the Foundation’s most prominent education program, the annual Songbook Academy summer intensive, as well as the development of Perfect Harmony, a research-based program of therapeutic musical activities designed for people living with Alzheimer’s, dementia, and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Lewis also cultivated the Foundation’s relationship with the Los Angeles-based Grammy Museum, which now recognizes the Foundation as one of its five Cultural Affiliates around the world.
Lewis is an accomplished musician with professional vocal experience. He received a master’s degree in education from Mercy College and has worked as a history teacher and special education liaison for the New York City Department of Education. He earned a graduate certificate in nonprofit executive leadership through the IUPUI School of Philanthropy and is a graduate of the Hamilton County Leadership Academy.
Lewis is a member of the Indianapolis Consortium of Arts Administrators, the National Association of Music Educators, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the Jazz Education Network, and the Recording Academy.
During the podcast, Lewis also spoke more about The Great American Songbook Foundation. The Foundation is housed in The Palladium at The Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel. It houses a vast library and extensive archives that are available by appointment, so they can share in the rich musical legacy of the American Songbook.
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Markoff
Dreyer
Next week, The Omnibus Show will welcome the Honorable Judge David Dreyer (Ret.) of the Marion County Superior Court, along with Rick Markoff of the Carmel Rotary Club and the 2021 Rotarian of the Year.
About The Omnibus Show
The Omnibus Show is Carmel’s No. 1 podcast, hosted by Dave Gibbs and produced for people who love interviews of interesting and accomplished people and who are life learners themselves.
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