As a Composer
Dr. Lewis has a masters in composition from City College, where he studied with Pulitzer-prize winner David del Tredici. At City College, Mr. Lewis’ Revelation, (a setting of the Book of Revelations, for soprano soloist, choir and orchestra), was premiered. Upon his graduation in 1993, Mr. Lewis joined the music faculty of the Horace Mann School. During his tenure at Horace Mann he composed numerous works for the Orchestra, Concert Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Choral groups. In 1998 Mr. Lewis presented the premiere of his Symphony No. 1, at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center. In 2002, he was privileged to participate in the NYU Film Score Workshop with renowned film composer Buddy Baker before his death. Recent commissions have included Entreat me not, for SSAATTBB a cappella choir, Hodie, for Women’s choir, piano and violin, We Are the Music Makers, and Veritas! for mixed choir, children’s choir, and violin solo, which was premiered at Carnegie Hall. He has written pieces for the Rush-Henrietta School District, the Jenny Lin Foundation, and the Connecticut Valley Chamber Orchestra as well as for individuals and churches. Those commissions cover a broad variety of styles and have all been met with enthusiasm and public support. In 2004, Darin teamed up with choreographer Alison Kolinski to present an evening of dance – classical. Modern, ballet, jazz, disco, hip-hop and funk; with all of the music composed by Lewis. In 2005, the Connecticut Valley Chamber Orchestra premiered his Violin Concerto No. 2. In celebration of his 45th year of ministry, The Suffrigan Bishop of New York City asked Mr. Lewis to compose a work for choir and organ that was premiered at a gala service in New York in 2006. Mr. Lewis’ Toccata for Organ was also presented. Mr. Lewis’ Rhapsody for Violin and Orchestra was premiered in May of 2007 in New York and was subsequently presented on a concert tour of Spain. In June of 2009 he premiered Lux, a multi-movement work for choir, orchestra and soloists. In 2010, Mr. Lewis was commissioned by the town of Needham, MA to write a piece in celebration of the town’s 300th anniversary and was subsequently performed by the Boston Pops under the direction of Keith Lockhart. Dr. Lewis’ “Hodie” for Treble Choir has recently been published by Alfred Music. Mr. Lewis has been a consultant for music festivals in the U.S. and in Austria and adjudicates for Heritage Festivals on the East Coast. Currently he is on the faculty at Muhlenberg College, and Director of Music at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Robesonia, PA. Dr. Lewis holds a Doctor of Music Arts degree from Boston University.
As a Conductor
CHORAL Conductor:
Mr. Lewis has extensive experience conducting choral and instrumental ensembles. From founding the Manchester Chorale while studying a the Royal Northern College of Music on a Rotary Scholarship, to being a guest conductor with the Rush-Henrietta School in New York, to the Jenny Lin Foundation in California, he is developing a growing reputation as an experienced, invigorating, and inspiring choral director. He has studied with noted choral pedagogues and conductors Dr. Charlene Archibeque, Dr. Robert Harris, and Rodney Eichenberger. He has been a consultant for music festivals in the U.S. and in Austria and adjudicates for Heritage Festivals on the East Coast. He holds degrees from USC, City College in New York and Yale University, and a Doctorate in Music Education from Boston University. He is currently on the faculty at Muhlenberg College and is Minister of Music at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Robesonia, PA,
ORCHESTRA Conductor:
Named a 2nd place winner in the Orchestral Conducting Professional Division of the American Prize in 2013, Darin Lewis has conducted at major venues throughout the Eastern United States, including performances at Alice Tully Hall, Columbia University, St. Bartholomew’s Church, Grace Church and at the Alliance Française with the Little Orchestra Society of New York. He has toured England, France, Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, Argentina, Uruguay and Germany with performances at major venues in Paris, Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Leipzig, Halle, London, Buenos Aires and Berlin. He has been a guest conductor with numerous ensembles and has been invited several times to conduct at the Music Educator’s Eastern Division Regional Conference. He has led workshops in Massachusetts, New York, California, and Connecticut. He is currently on the faculty at Muhlenberg College, and Artistic Director of the Simpatico Chamber Ensemble.
As a Educator
As an educator, Dr. Darin Lewis as taught every type of course from middle school to college, including Music Theory, Music History, Music Appreciation, band, orchestra, choir, jazz band, marching band, and chamber ensemble. For 19 years, he taught at Horace Mann School, where as chair for 14 year he grew the department, and under his leadership the department developed a multiple-level band program, a multi-level orchestral program, grew middle school level choral opportunities, and expanded the academic portfolio of classes. The program grew to be nationally recognized, and groups from Horace Mann were invited to perform and regional conferences and festivals across Europe. Professor Lewis has taught at Lafayette College, Lehigh University, and currently teaches at Muhlenberg College. On the collegiate level, he has lead choirs, orchestras, and bands, and is currently actively involved in teaching Music Theory. Dr. Lewis is passionate about teaching and developing skills in students that they can draw on throughout their lives. Cultivating life skills and social skills is at the core of his teaching philosophy. That desire to incorporate utilitarian values in his teaching influenced his doctoral research, which focuses on adults who participated in high school orchestra and what effect that had on their behaviors as adults. He has been recognized as an outstanding educator and motivator.
