The 600-seat venue in the Music Building is now named in recognition of a Lion alumna who devoted her life to music education.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents has approved the renaming of East Texas A&M University's concert hall for Cheryl Childers Lewis, a Lion alumna whose lifelong dedication to music education continues to inspire students today.

An impactful gift

The new name honors the late Lion alumna and lifelong music educator, in recognition of a $500,000 gift to the School of Music from Cheryl's husband, Jim Lewis. Both Jim and Cheryl are graduates of the university. Cheryl passed away in 2016.

“This gift is especially meaningful because Cheryl and Jim Lewis's shared love of music and the performing arts began here at East Texas,” said Devin Girod, vice president for Philanthropy and Engagement at East Texas A&M. “Through the naming of the Cheryl Childers Lewis Concert Hall, Jim is honoring Cheryl's legacy while impacting our outstanding music students and inspiring fellow alumni and friends of the School of Music.”

Girod added that the gift will support the creation of a Director's Innovation Fund, which will expand scholarships, performance opportunities, and experiential learning, ensuring Cheryl's passion for music continues to shape lives now and in the future.

Dr. Brian Zator, regents professor and interim director of the School of Music, praised Jim's generosity and stressed the positive impact the gift will have on Lion music students.

“Jim Lewis's extraordinary and selfless gift stands as a beautiful tribute to his late wife and creates a lasting investment in the future of our School of Music,” Zator said. “His commitment not only ensures that Cheryl's legacy will be preserved within our program but also creates opportunities that will benefit future generations of students and faculty. This act of generosity positions our program for continued growth, excellence and forward-thinking success, reflecting both Jim's devotion and Cheryl's enduring impact to our ET musical community.”

ETAMU President Mark Rudin said that the new name is a fitting way to honor a lifelong music educator and Lion alumna.

“Cheryl's legacy perfectly encapsulates our mission at East Texas A&M: To educate and prepare the next generation of leaders in their fields,” Rudin said. “I thank Jim for his generous gift and know it will go toward a good cause of enhancing the educational experience of students in our School of Music.”

Bringing people together

Jim Lewis didn't attend East Texas for a music degree, but his affinity for music led him to meet his future wife in Commerce.

After transferring to ETSU in 1975, Jim double-majored in sociology and counseling, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1976.

“I sang in churches and boys choirs growing up, but I didn't have a desire to teach music, so I didn't go that route in college,” Lewis said.

He had even performed with the Texas Boys Choir. Lewis was part of the ensemble that recorded “The Glory of Gabrieli” at the San Marco Basilica in Venice, which won the Grammy Award for Best Choral Performance (other than opera) in 1968.

“My last semester of undergrad, I needed an elective, so I took a ‘history of jazz' class with Gene Lockhart, and that got me more involved with music at ET.”

While studying in Commerce, he also took private voice lessons from a graduate assistant in the music department. His voice teacher introduced him to a fellow GA, Cheryl Childers, a soft-spoken but gifted vocalist from Arkansas who was completing her master's degree in music education. As an undergraduate student at Arkansas Tech University, she was the founding president of the Zeta Rho chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota, a national music service fraternity for women.

Jim and Cheryl hit it off almost instantly and remained together for nearly four decades.

“If it wasn't for the music department at ET, I don't think there was any way we would have met,” Lewis said. “It literally changed my life.”

Jim graduated in 1978 with a master's in counseling, while Cheryl earned her master's in music education in 1979. The couple married that same year. While Jim has worked in advancement offices at multiple universities over the last four decades, Cheryl spent her time as a music teacher, conducting choirs of all ages, leading church choirs, providing private voice lessons, leading children's music theater productions and more.

“Cheryl was an incredible musician,” Lewis said. “Most of all, she was a great communicator. She had a real knack for connecting with inexperienced or volunteer singers and explaining things or giving feedback in a way that got results and made them better singers.”

Wanting to do something more

Jim has been an avid supporter of the School of Music at East Texas A&M for many years. After Cheryl's passing in 2016, he established an endowed scholarship for music students and also sponsors the school's spring honors recital, which is named in Cheryl's honor. Even going back to the beginning of the Music Building's existence in 2010, the Lewis family donated funds to label two chairs in the front row of the concert hall. Jim and Cheryl once toured the building under construction in the late 2000s.

Still, Jim said that he felt there was more he could do.

“I'm not wealthy, but I am blessed,” Lewis said. “This gift was a way to honor someone who made a difference in people's lives through music, and also to help the School of Music continue to thrive and give a great experience to students.”

He added, “In the School of Music, they make magic every day. They should be very proud of what they accomplish.”

The history of an impressive venue and a bright future ahead

The Lewis Concert Hall was previously named for Jack and Lou Finney. Jack, who was born in Commerce, became a successful Hunt County businessman in several industries. The concert hall carried the Finney family's name for 16 years in recognition of the Finneys' achievements.

Remarkably, the concert hall's renaming comes on the 50-year anniversary of Jim Lewis' graduation from ET and first association with the School of Music. His connections to the university remain strong. So strong, in fact, that he even came out of retirement in 2023 to serve part-time as a senior advancement officer with the university's Division of Philanthropy and Engagement.

“ET is a very aspirational institution with a bright future ahead,” Lewis said.

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