Turning You on to Classical Music Podcast

Dennis Lewin born to Ellis Lewin and Joan Lewin is the middle child of three siblings including Ricky and Debi. He started piano at the age of 4 under the teaching of his grandfather concert pianist Joseph Lewin who along with Lewin's father survived the Holocaust, including Auschwitz and Dachau concentration camps. At age 6 Lewin began studying classical piano with Margaret Heller an alumni teacher from The Cleveland Institute of Music. After Heller’s retirement 4 years later Lewin auditioned for concert pianist and teacher Dr. Andrius Kuprevičius at The Cleveland Music School Settlement. He remained with Dr. Kuprevicious for 9 years. When Kuprevicious became the head of the piano department at Cleveland State University, Lewin followed and also majored in musical theory with Dr Heywood Alexander. In 1983 Lewin joined the local group Jonah Koslen and the Heroes. The band had an album released called Aces. After Jonah Koslen and the Heroes disbanded Lewin teamed up with singers Frank Amato and Tommy Amato and bassist Bill March to put together the Cleveland band Beau Coup. At the age of 24 Lewin signed his first recording contract with Scotti Brothers Records / CBS records for the debut album Beau Coup for which he wrote all songs and lyrics. Two years later after struggling with the record label Lewin and Beau Coup produced their album with Amherst / A&M Records. After the band officially disbanded in the 1990s Lewin went on to open his own piano studio which is still operating in Beachwood Ohio. Aside from being characters in 2 books by author Les Roberts titled “Indian Sign” and “The Best Kept Secret” and appearing in the book “Flashbacks to Happiness" "Eighties Music Revisited” by Randolph Michaels and the book “Rock & Roll and the Cleveland Connection” by Deanna Adams, Lewin released a solo piano CD called “Crossing Chagrin” which contains the music of J.S. Bach, Scarlatti, Debussy, Satie, Andrew Lloyd Weber and others. Lewin also is credited for the music on the soundtrack to the independent film “Filmic Achievement written and directed by Kevin Kerwin. The film won “Best Director” at The Stratford-Upon-Avon International Film Festival and “Best Feature Film” at The Nolita Film Festival in New York City. “Filmic Achievement” was also featured in 12 other international film festivals including The Cleveland International Film Festival. In addition to performing with bands, teaching, writing music and hosting his radio programs previously on WERE Cleveland, WHK Cleveland, WCLV Cleveland and now on WHKW Cleveland, WXGR New Hampshire and Radio Arts Indonesia, Lewin is a solo pianist and performs regularly in the greater Cleveland and Northeastern Ohio area, sometimes with his sister vocalist Debi Lewin. Go to dennislewinmusic.com for more information.