Susan Lewis Kavinski

Susan Lewis Kavinski (Soprano) is a vocalist and active-duty service member with the United States Navy Band, Washington, D.C. For two decades, Susan has been privileged to perform as a member of the Navy Band Sea Chanters chorus. As a featured soloist and ensemble member, she has sung for presidents, vice presidents, high-ranking military leaders, Cabinet members, popes, and an array of foreign and domestic leaders and dignitaries. Her military career highlights run the gamut from the soloing at the White House, to performing with renowned operatic soprano Renée Fleming at the 48th Super Bowl. As a service member, Susan has toured throughout the contiguous United States, performing for large public audiences at prestigious venues. She is frequently featured as a soloist with the Navy Concert Band, and her recording of Dvořák’s Song to the Moon remains one of the most-viewed classical solo performances in the U.S. Navy Band YouTube channel.

A resident of the greater D.C. area, Susan has appeared in venues with prominent musical organizations throughout this region and beyond including National Symphony Orchestra, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops Orchestra, the Washington Bach Consort, Washington Chorus, Folger Consort, Cathedra, Washington National Cathedral Choir, Choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Master Chorale of Washington at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Millennium Stage, the Kennedy Center Honors, DAR Constitution Hall, Strathmore Music Center, Rachel M. Schlesinger Concert Hall, and internationally at St. Peter’s Basilica, St. Paul Outside the Walls, the private garden of Pope Benedict XVI, and St. Mary Major in Rome, Italy. She has a considerable discography including Folger Consort’s 2011 recording A New Song with Vocal Ensemble Cathedra, and her performance as soprano soloist in Washington National Cathedral’s 2010 recording of Handel’s Messiah was lauded by Fanfare magazine.

During the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Susan co-founded VoxCorona, a non-profit relief fund to support DMV-area vocalists who lost contract work during the lockdown. In all, the organization raised over $30,000 in grant funding for local musicians. Susan is delighted to be returning to collaborate with the wonderful musicians of the Folger Consort.