Great American Songbook Foundation Selects VP
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Great American Songbook Foundation has promoted Christopher Lewis to vice president. He previously served as the foundation’s director of programs. Lewis replaces Karen Kelsey, who is retiring after five years as vice president. Founded in 2007 by five-time Grammy nominee Michael Feinstein and housed at the affiliated Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, the Great American Songbook Foundation offers education and outreach programs and maintains archives, a library and an exhibit gallery dedicated to the timeless jazz standards, Broadway and Hollywood tunes and other classic popular music of the early- to mid-20th century. Under Kelsey’s leadership, the Songbook Foundation has increased financial contributions by 70 percent, hosted over 10,000 visitors to gallery exhibits and expanded the archives from 44 collections to 190. Lewis, as director of programs, has been responsible for the development and execution of the Foundation’s public programming. In his new role as vice president, he will oversee all activities including collection management, gallery exhibits, educational and outreach programming and the annual Songbook Academy, which selects top high school vocalists from around the country to experience a week of workshops and master classes with Broadway performers, music industry professionals and educators from respected university music and theater programs. Lewis also will collaborate with the Center’s development staff in building a diverse fundraising base to sustain Foundation activities. He holds 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. Lewis also holds an Indiana teaching certification and is pursuing a certificate in nonprofit executive leadership through the IUPUI School of Philanthropy. He is a member of the National Association of Music Educators, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, Jazz Education Network and Recording Academy. Replacing Lewis as director of programs is Cathy Burton, formerly the director of education at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. She previously worked as an educator/curator at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and the Autry Museum of the American West. She holds a bachelor’s degree in art history and a master’s degree in cultural anthropology from California State University.