Eric Lewis

Eric Lewis was born in New York City and received his early training at the Manhattan School of Music where he received Bachelor and master performance degrees, studying with Rachmael Weinstock, the first violinist of the 1930s version of the Manhattan String Quartet. The urging of his chamber music coaches, Weinstock and Lillian Fuchs, launched his concretizing career with the formation of the new Manhattan Sting Quartet in 1968 as the resident ensemble of The Manhattan School of Music. Since then the quartet, with Mr. Lewis as its first violinist, has become well-known as a premier touring and recording ensemble to classical music lovers all over the world, including North and South America, Europe, Russia and China. Critically acclaimed recordings of his performances with the quartet are available on Musical Heritage Society, Centaur, Newport Classics KOCH International, ESS.A.Y. and SONY. In recent years, Mr. Lewis has broadened hhis performing as a chamber music artist, soloist, and conductor with the formation of several innovative ensembles such as PVP, a contemporary music trio with percussion, violin and piano; Prometheus, a piano quartet; Delphi, a soprano and violin duo; and the Camerata Chamber Orchestra, which he conducts and performs in as a violin soloist. His recent solo violin recitals have featured a series of concerts dedicated to the ten violin/piano Sonatas of Beethoven. As Professor of Music and Director of Chamber Music and Orchestral Studies at Western Connecticut State University, Mr. Lewis also maintains a busy teaching schedule, coaching young professional chamber ensembles wherever he travels and training young violinists for performing careers. He has a major commitment to young people’s concerts and has given over 1,000 concerts especially for children.

Photo: Roy Lewis