CLASSICAL CONCERT PIANO DUET HELD AT TAMAQUA COMMUNITY ARTS CENTER

Pictured from left are Tamaqua Community Arts Center volunteers Rose Beck, Jack Kulp, and pianists Cheryl Humes and Michael Lewis.

A Classical Concert Piano Duet was held recently at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center featuring Cheryl Humes and Michael Lewis.
Cheryl Tennant Humes Ms. Humes attended Westminster Choir College, studying with the late Harold Zabrack and later completed her degree at Bloomsburg University where she studied with Dr. James Douthit. She was tutored in opera repertoire by an accompanist/vocal coach of the Long Island Opera, James Howe. Ms. Humes particularly enjoys accompanying vocal and instrumental soloists and participating in other musical collaborations. Highlights of her musical endeavors include performing the music of friend and composer Dr. Paul Miller at Carnegie Hall; serving as pianist and accompanist for two contemporary opera productions in Europe, notably in Bonn’s renowned Kunsthalle and in Prague; and occasionally accompanying master classes and lessons conducted by legendary opera star Licia Albanese under the auspices of Opera International, as well as for students in the studios of Diana Reed Warden and Josepha Gayer. Currently, Ms. Humes is an attorney practicing civil law in Pennsylvania, including advocacy as guardian ad litem for over 150 children.
Michael Lewis is currently engaged as Assistant Music Director and Chorus Master for Tri-Cities Opera and Vocal Coach and Staff Accompanist at Binghamton University and of Binghamton, NY. He earned his undergraduate degree in Vocal Performance from Ithaca College in May 2013. He has had coaching experience with the International Vocal Arts Institute, Mill City Summer Opera, Cooperative program and Ithaca College School of Music. While at Ithaca College, Michael assisted in the creation of the first student-run opera company at the college, Ithaca College Light Opera, in which he served as assistant music director and vocal coach. He went on to lead the group in their second season as music director. The opera company continues to perform one one-act opera each semester. As a vocalist, he has performed a variety of roles in Ithaca College’s main stage productions. Most recently, he had the opportunity to play the title role in Gianni Schicchi in 2013. This production was paired with Suor Angelica, for which Michael served as opera chorus master. For the past 7 years, Michael has been actively developing his style as a composer. His current works, which focus on vocal, piano, and electronic music, have been performed at the International Vocal Arts Institute, Ithaca College, and San Francisco Conservatory.
The shows repertoire/program consisted of:
Concerto in F Minor, First Movement — J.S. Bach.
Suite No. 2: Romance and Tarantella — Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Concerto in G, Second Movement — Maurice Ravel.
Hungarian Dances — Johannes Brahms.
Variations on a Theme by Haydn — Johannes Brahms.
Scaramouche — Darius Milhaud.
Slavic Dances — Anton Dvorak.
Souvenirs Ballet Suite — Samuel Barber.
Petite Suite — Claude Debussy.
The center’s website is http://www.TamaquaArts.org.