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J. Reilly Lewis is the founding conductor of the Washington Bach Consort and the music director of the Cathedral Choral Society. He is recognized internationally as an accomplished conductor and keyboard artist as well as a leading specialist of baroque music, particularly the music of J. S. Bach.
He received his bachelor’s degree from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and his master’s and doctoral degrees from The Juilliard School. A Fulbright Fellowship enabled him to spend a year in Germany doing specialized study in conducting, organ, and harpsichord at the Hochschule für Musik in Frankfurt am Main. Several years later, he spent a summer in France studying with the legendary composition teacher Nadia Boulanger.
Lewis has served as organist and choirmaster at Clarendon United Methodist Church in Arlington, Virginia since 1971 where, in addition to leading the adult choir, he developed an outstanding youth music program.
His performing and conducting career has included appearances with the National Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Handel Festival in Halle, the International Bach Festival in Leipzig, the Aspen Music Festival, the Cologne New Music Festival, and the Mozart Festival in New York and Washington.
His honors and awards include the Paul Hume Award, presented by the Levine School of Music, for outstanding commitment to enriching the cultural life of Washington. His active work with children and youth includes the education and outreach programs of both the Cathedral Choral Society and the Washington Bach Consort. In April 2004, Lewis received the “Distinguished Washingtonian Award” presented by the University Club of Washington, D.C. in honor of its centennial. In January 2006, the Washingtonian Magazine named Lewis as a 2005 Washingtonian of the year.
