Eddie Neimann began his piano studies at the age of six with his grandfather, Arthur Kurtz, a student of the legendary Nadia Boulanger.  He demonstrated remarkable talent at an early age and won several piano competitions in the St. Louis area.  At the age of 15, his family relocated to Fort Dodge, Iowa, and he began studying with Cyndie Caruth.

While studying with Cyndie, Eddie won numerous competitions and appeared with several orchestras.  He won first place in both the IMTA and MTNA (state of Iowa) high school piano competitions.  As a result of winning several young artist competitions, Eddie appeared as soloist performing concertos by Prokofiev and Rachmaninoff with the Kansas City, Sioux City, and Fort Dodge Symphonies. He also won the Terrace Hill Governor’s Piano Competition and was accepted by videotape audition into the Performer’s Program at the prestigious TCU/Van Cliburn International Piano Institute in the summer of 1997.  In the fall of 1999, Eddie accepted a full scholarship at the University of Northern Iowa where he studied with Howard Aibel.

During his time at UNI, Eddie won the MTNA (state of Iowa) collegiate piano competition and was twice a finalist in the Schubert Competition.  He also won the prestigious Presser Scholarship during his senior year.

After graduating from UNI, Eddie continued his studies as a graduate assistant at the University of Florida where he received the Master of Music degree in Piano Performance as a student of Boaz Sharon.

Ruth Lewis received the Master of Fine Arts degree in organ performance from the University of Florida in 1986, studying both organ and harpsichord with Willis Bodine. She also holds the Teacher's and Performer's Diplomas in piano from the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and a Bachelor of Arts degree from UF. She has been an active performer in the Gainesville area, presenting concerts and recitals as soloist, chamber musician, and choral director. She especially enjoys featuring new or seldom heard works. Her programs have included such themes as "Organ Treasures from Scandinavia," "The Harpsichord — Celebrating a Century of Revival," "Music in Praise of Music," and "A Centennial Tribute to Paul Robeson."

Ruth began teaching piano at the age of 12 and has continued doing so to this day. She currently maintains a private piano studio in Gainesville. She holds state and national certification from the Music Teachers National Association. She is active in a number of musical organizations and recently completed two years as president of the Gainesville Music Teachers Association.

Ruth serves as Minister of Music at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, where she founded and directs three choirs for adults, children and youth. Two years ago the congregation honored her for 30 years service by secretly commissioning a choral anthem, Summon Our Voices, from Unitarian Universalist composer Rev. Jason Shelton of First UU Church of Nashville, with words by Reverend Dr. Kendyl Gibbons, minister at the  First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis, and bringing the composer to Gainesville to conduct the premiere performance of the anthem.

In March 2007, Ruth organized the first Florida District Unitarian Universalist Choral Festival, with choirs from 6 congregations around the state attending Saturday rehearsals and workshops and then singing, 70 voices strong, for the Sunday service the following morning. The 2008 Second Annual Florida District UU Choral Festival was held in Orlando with ten groups participating! The Annual Choral Festival has become an important event in the Florida district.