Lowcountry Harp Society & Hilton Head Choral Society Hosts Lowcountry Harp Ensemble Concert

The Lowcountry American Harp Society Chapter along with the Hilton Head Choral Society presents the Lowcountry Harp Ensemble with Guest Harpist Rhett Barnwell in concert on Saturday, February 26 at 3:30 pm at St. Andrew By-The-Sea UMC, 20 Pope Ave., Hilton Head Island.

World-renowned harpist Rhett Barnwell’s arrangement of “Wade In The Water – A Lowcountry Suite” will be premiered that afternoon. Eight harpists under the direction of Tim Reynolds, Artistic Director of the Hilton Head Choral Society and former Music Director at St. Andrew, will perform a free program celebrating the musical cultures of our area. This harp ensemble work is made possible in part by a grant from the American Harp Society.

Each February, Hilton Head Island celebrates one of its most important cultural chapters with a month-long celebration in honor of the Gullah culture and heritage. The concert is in honor of the Gullah Music of the Lowcountry as well as Black History Month.

Rhett Barnwell is a composer, arranger and performer, and the founder of Seraphim Music, which publishes sacred, classical and meditative music for lever and pedal harp. A specialist in classical and sacred music for harp, he has been in demand as a presenter and performer at conferences all over the country. He is also on the faculty of Harp Column Academy. Barnwell earned a Master of Music degree from St. Louis Conservatory and did post-graduate Doctoral study at the University of Georgia. He has served as a choral director and organist for churches throughout the Southeast since 1984, and is currently Organist and Choirmaster at The Church of Our Saviour in Atlanta, GA.

“We welcome the community to come enjoy this artistic celebration,” says Reynolds. “It will be a special afternoon commemorating music that is unique to the Lowcountry.”