Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus Names Executive Director

I am pleased to announce that Jon Lewis has accepted the position of Executive Director, Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus. Jon started his new responsibilities by attending our Board Retreat last weekend. He will work with Ora Rhine, Interim Executive Director, this week on transitioning responsibilities.

Jon Lewis is a lawyer, having practiced small business, non-profit and real estate law in the Twin Cities for more than 20 years, most recently at his own firm in the Uptown area of Minneapolis. Two years ago, Jon became an arts administrator by taking the position of Executive Director of the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphonies (GTCYS). Before joining the staff of GTCYS, Jon spent three years on the GTCYS Board of Directors, serving as the head of its Personnel Committee and on its Executive Committee.

A native of Ames, Iowa, Jon graduated from St. Olaf College, where he met his wife, Lisa, played percussion with the St. Olaf Orchestra, and sang in the Campus Choir. After St. Olaf, Jon obtained his law degree at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. For the past 10 years, Jon has played percussion with the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (MSO), which plays free concerts throughout the Twin Cities. Jon served on the MSO Board for six years, the final two as President.

While in Ames, Jon represented an openly gay Lutheran pastor in an ecclesiastical proceeding brought against the pastor by the Southeast Iowa Synod. The Synod sought to remove the pastor from the roster of qualified clergy because he is gay and refused to leave his partner. Jon worked with the GLBT communities in Iowa and Minnesota for several months on this matter, which was a tremendous growth experience. “Call to Witness” is a documentary made about the case as well as the Anita Hill proceedings.

As a lawyer, Jon is acutely aware of the challenges still faced by the GLBT communities. He sees TCGMC as a great force for positive change in what is still a somewhat hostile environment, and sees the Southern Tour as “inspiring work” and “outreach at its best.”

Jon and Lisa reside in South Minneapolis in the Lyndale neighborhood with their two cats.

The Search Committee and I are excited for Jon to join our team. Please join me in welcoming Jon to our organization.

Kerry Severson
Board Chair, Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus

###

Photos available in jpeg or tif format.
Please contact Jon Lewis at 612.339.7664 or email: jlewis@tcgmc.org

Concert Tickets are now available for purchase online!