World-renowned harpist Rhett Barnwell will appear in concert Feb. 26 at St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church on Hilton Head Island.
World-renowned harpist Rhett Barnwell will perform in concert with the Lowcountry Harp Ensemble at 3:30 p.m. Feb. 26 at St. Andrew By-The-Sea United Methodist Church on Hilton Head Island.
The free concert is presented by the Lowcountry American Harp Society Chapter along with the Hilton Head Choral Society.
Barnwell’s arrangement of “Wade In The Water – A Lowcountry Suite” will be premiered that afternoon. Eight harpists will perform a free program, under the direction of Tim Reynolds, artistic director of the Hilton Head Choral Society and former Music Director at St. Andrew, 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.
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.
“We welcome the community to come enjoy this artistic celebration,” said Reynolds. “It will be a special afternoon commemorating music that is unique to the Lowcountry.”
