Welcome!

My name is Dr. Stephen Lewis and I’m a concert pianist and composer based in Portland, Oregon.

I’m excited that you’ve found my webpage. Please enjoy exploring it. I have recordings of some of my favorite performances posted here, along with information about my compositions.

I perform adventurous solo piano recitals of music that I love that combine traditional classical music with works by avant-garde and underrepresented composers. My goal is to wake up the possibility of new meanings and connections for all of this music in today’s world, shaking us loose from a rigid appreciation of classical music that relies solely on the reification of our class rank as listeners to “great” music by “genius” composers.

My compositions explore the terrain between sound as physical sensation and sound as cultural signifier. Frequent topics that are the subjects of my compositions include the relationship between humans and our environment, the creation of different scales of time, human connection in a world dominated by the necessity to work to have a life, and the persistence and limitations of narrative as a fundamental aspect of human understanding and experience.

I perform frequently with the Oregon Symphony and other ensembles and musicians in the Portland area. I teach private piano and composition lessons at my home studio and online to students who live anywhere the internet goes.

Please consider subscribing to my email newsletter if you would like to be informed about my upcoming concerts and other events. I’d love to see you there or hear from you!