At Dixie Forum, Bernice Lewis presents ‘The Anatomy and Physiology of Song’

At the next Dixie Forum on Tuesday, Nov. 17, Bernice Lewis will presents “The Anatomy and Physiology of Song.” Lewis will also offer an acoustic guitar performance. The presentation will take place from noon to 12:50 p.m. at the Dunford Auditorium in the Browning Resource Center on the Dixie State University campus. Admission is free, and the public is welcome to attend.

During her Dixie Forum presentation, Lewis will offer a lecture and demonstration about how the structure of contemporary song evolved over history. Using her own songs, the touring artist will deconstruct the contemporary form. Additionally, she will analyze the components and storyline and use of poetic devices, chord structure, and melody.

In addition to performing for almost four decades and releasing more than half a dozen acclaimed albums, Lewis is a producer, educator, and published poet. Lewis—who studied vocal improvisation with Bobby McFerrin, guitar technique with Alex DeGrassi and Guy van Duser, and songwriting with Rosanne Cash and Cris Williamson—has been a featured performer on NPR’s “Mountain Stage” program as well as at the Kennedy Center.

Lewis is the artist associate in songwriting at Williams College. She also teaches at Colorado College and Rock On Camp at Berkshire Community College. Additionally, she is a founding member of The Ladies Auxiliary Ukulele Orchestra.

Dixie Forum is a weekly lecture series designed to introduce the St. George community and DSU students, faculty, and staff to diverse ideas and personalities while widening their worldviews via a 50-minute presentation. Dixie Forum will be on recess next week as students and faculty prepare for Thanksgiving Break but will resume at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 1, in the Dunford Auditorium with a presentation from Eric Thacker.

For more information on DSU’s Dixie Forum series, please contact DSU forum coordinator John Burns at (435) 879-4712 or burns@dixie.edu or visit dixie.edu/humanities/dixie_forum.php. Stay up-to-date on the forums by liking the Dixie Forum Facebook page or following @dixieforum on Twitter.