Friday Morning Music Club presents: Soprano Leslie Luxemburg and pianist Phyllis Gerstell have offered to present a program of songs by Kurt Weill and Jerome Kern, plus some French/English crossover tunes, including I Wish you Love, Autumn Leaves, and La Vie en Rose.

 

Leslie Luxemburg: Leslie spent her entire career as a professional singer, first with the New York City Opera during the Beverly Sills era, subsequently with the Washington National Opera, Wolf Trap Opera and a variety of other local companies. Teaching voice became a passion as well, and she maintained an active vocal studio for many years. These days she keeps musically involved as President of the Friday Morning Music Club, a 138 year old Washington institution. She does occasional film and commercial work, and especially enjoys sharing programs of songs she loves in retirement homes and similar group settings.

 

Phyllis Gerstell: Phyllis is a recovering former lawyer who, despite years of classical piano lessons, prefers playing by ear in the “cocktail piano” style – which she has done locally at various restaurants, events, and even boats. She has served as Musical Director for numerous children’s theatre productions at Adventure Theatre in Glenn Echo Park, was a many years contributing songwriter/arranger for DC’s annual “Hexagon” satiric revue, and studied music theory and orchestration at Catholic University’s Benjamin Rome School of Music. Working with Leslie on these charming French selections and wonderful songs from the Great American Songbook has been an absolute delight.