In Memoriam: Charles A. Lewis, Jr. (1948-2025)
With sadness we share the passing of Charles A. Lewis, Jr., trumpeter and teacher for over fifty years.
A native of Wilmington, Delaware, Lewis received his bachelor’s degree from the Peabody Institute in 1970, studying with Harold Rehrig. He received his master’s degree from the New England Conservatory (NEC) in 1972, studying with Armando Ghitalla.
Lewis played two summer seasons with the BMC orchestra at Tanglewood in 1970 and 1971. There he met tubist Sam Pilafian and formed what became the Empire Brass Quintet. Ultimately the Empire Brass Quintet became a world-class brass ensemble, making a major impact with their recordings, commissions, publications, and concert tours.
In 1973, the first annual New York Brass Conference for Scholarships marked the official beginning of the group’s illustrious career. Empire went on to win the Naumburg Chamber Music Award in 1976, the only brass group to win the prestigious international chamber music competition up to that time. In 1981, the group became a full-time ensemble performing nationally and internationally.
In 1971, while still a student at NEC, Lewis was selected by Leonard Bernstein to be principal trumpet for the premiere of his Mass, commissioned for the opening of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. In the same year, Lewis became solo trumpet with the New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble. The ensemble recorded Scott Joplin’s The Red Back Book on Angel Records, earning a Grammy for “Best Chamber Music Performance.”
As a soloist, Lewis premiered Boris Blacher’s Concerto for High Trumpet and String Orchestra. He taught throughout his career at Boston University, New England Conservatory, and Berklee College of Music. In addition to the Empire Brass, his career highlights include performances with the Baltimore and Boston Symphony Orchestras, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Dizzy Gillespie. (Source: Charles Wilson)
Empire Brass Quintet, 1980. (L - R): David Ohanian, Charles A. Lewis, Jr., J. Samuel Pilafian, Donald Sanders, and Rolf Smedvig
Charlie Lewis (left) with Dizzy Gillespie