Enrico Caruso Room Welcomes La Toya Lewis and Adam Strube in Concert Tonight, 8/21

Brooklyn-born Soprano La Toya Lewis and Lyric Basso Profundo Adam Strube perform a joint concert at the Enrico Caruso Room at Grotta Azzurra (177 Broome Street in Little Italy) tonight, August 21, at 8 PM as part of the venue's Tuesday Night Opera Series which began this past April. There is a $20 cover charge. Dinner and drinks are available from 7 PM. There is no food or drinks minimum. Reservations are suggested by calling: 212-925-8775.

Soprano La Toya Lewis is an emerging opera singer who has performed in various concerts and master classes around NYC. Most recently, she placed 2nd in the NATS Student Competition. After graduating from Binghamton University where she was a resident artist with Tri-Cities Opera, Ms. Lewis returned to New York City where she performs frequently with opera companies and in recital. In 2010, Miss Lewis was a Featured Singer with the Opera Singers Initiative. In addition to performing in concert at the historic Van Alen Mansion & the dazzling WMP Concert Hall, Miss Lewis was honored with the Young Opera Recording Award. She also made her company debut with the Light Opera of New York as Clementina in The Desert Song that same season.

For the 2009 season, she performed in concert with Chelsea Opera in "Chelsea Opera Presents: One Night Only - Covers take the Stage". She also sang Fiordiligi (Cosi fan Tutte) with Underworld Productions. That summer, she made her company debut and performed the title role of Susanna in Il Segreto di Susanna with Opera Manhattan Repertory Theatre. During the 2007/2008 season, Ms. Lewis was a Young Artist with the Utah Festival Opera. While there, shecovered the role of Clara (Porgy and Bess) with and performed the role of Consuela (West Side Story). She performed in various recitals around Logan, UT and was a featured soloist in the Carnevale Operafesta.

Ms Lewis then completed her Master of Music degree with high honors while singing with the Tri-Cities Opera at Binghamton University. While there, she received the highly sought after Clifford Clark Fellowship, granting her full tuition scholarship and stipend. In addition to taking graduate courses, running a full voice studio, and teaching several music classes to undergraduate students, Ms. Lewis performed the roles of Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni) and Micaela (Carmen) with Tri-Cities Opera. Ms. Lewis was also the Soprano Soloist in the Bach B-Minor Mass with the University Orchestra. Additionally, she won the University Concerto Competition and performed once again with the University Orchestra.

That summer, Ms. Lewis went on to participate in the opera intensive training program International Vocal Arts Institute (IVAI) where she performed with the San Juan Symphony. She also worked with various staff from illustrious venues such as the Metropolitan Opera, La Scala and Opera de Paris. Ms. Lewis placed second in the 2nd Annual Charles A. Lynam Vocal Competition in Greensboro, NC and was a Finalist in the Jenny Lind Competition. Ms. Lewis is currently continuing her studies in a private studio with noted NYC voice teacher Kate Johnson and coaches with renowned French linguist, Thomas Grubb. In her spare time, she takes acting classes with noted actor/comedian Victor Cruz and maintains a high traffic book blog, “La Toya, Literally”, where she reviews books.

Adam Strube, an up-and-coming Lyric Basso Profundo who was born and raised in New Jersey, was just 18 years of age when he realized that he was blessed with a true low bass singing voice. His earliest singing experience was when he joined the school chorus when he was just ten years of age. He had a deep voice even as a child and everyone, including Adam, thought that his voice would change as he grew older. And change it did, but not the way most of his teachers thought it would.

He has already performed basso roles in numerous operas, among them: Les Contes d’Hoffmann, IL Barbiere di Siviglia, Don Giovanni, The Mikado, Candide, Rigoletto, Lucia di Lammermoor, La Traviata, Cendrillon and Manon. He has sung in recitals and concerts at Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, Church of St. Monica, Liederkranz Ballroom and Avery Fisher Hall again with the New York Philharmonic. He was a soloist in performances of Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem in 2008.

Highlights of his career to date include: Performances of Christmas Songs at The White House in both December 2007 and 2008; a solo performance at the Commencement Ceremony for Ithaca College in May 2008; performed Shostakovich Symphony No. 13 at Avery Fisher Hall, in chorus with the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Kurt Masur; Performed a solo with EVUSA Chorus for NY Pops Winter Concert at Carnegie Hall in December 2011; sang Valentine’s all over NYC with EVUSA Barbershop Quartet on Valentine’s Day 2012; and performed in chorus at Carnegie Hall with NY Pops and Jim Henson’s Muppets in April 2012.