Welcome, all!
It has been an absolute joy to craft this experience with the amazing musicians and Eastminster staff and volunteers! I first encountered the Carols and Keyboards program concept through colleagues in Texas and Virginia, though concerts featuring several pianos have been increasingly popular over the last few decades I knew this kind of concert would be the perfect opportunity to showcase both the incredible talent of the Eastminster music ministry and those musicians who graciously offer their gifts from the surrounding community.
It has been a six-month journey and commitment to produce this event; Fredna Lee and I met early and often throughout the year to discuss repertoire, personnel, and logistics There is no better team to work with than the talented staff and dedicated volunteers we have at Eastminster. At every turn, questions were answered and solutions were offered When producing an event of this size and caliber, having a star team to work with you is crucial. To all involved in the production of this concert, thank you so much!
My hope for this concert is that you will experience the spectrum of emotions that the Christmas season brings through music The music of Christmas has always been special to me and it easily lends itself to grandeur; however, the emotional attachment we experience with Christmas music is not just the excitement of the spectacle We also experience the elation of the gospel come to earth, the sweetness of the Savior's birth, the unity and rejoicing of the human race as we celebrate salvation, and the merriment (and hustle and bustle) of the season's activities! We hope that you will enjoy, reflect on, and experience all of these with us tonight
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you in this way! We are hopeful to see this concert tradition continue in the future
Musically yours
Augusto (Augie) Gil
Carols and Keyboards Artistic Director
Jubilee Worship Director
Eastminster Presbyterian Church
O Come, All Ye Faithful..............................Arr. Dan Forrest
Welcome and Prayer.................................Rev. Dr. Brad Smith
Hark! the Herald Angels Sing..................Arr. Jeff Bennett Ding! Dong! Merrily on High..............Arr. Howard Helvey
Congregational Singalong (words on screen) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer..................Johnny Marks Deck the Halls....................................................Welsh Folk Song
Sleigh Ride.............................................................Arr. Jeff Bennett
I Saw Three Ships......................Arr. John Frederick Hudson
Congregational Singalong (words on screen) Away in a Manger....................................James Ramsey Murray Silent Night..................................................................Franz Gruber Still, Still, Still..................................................Arr. Mark Hayes Angels from the Realms of Glory..........Arr. Dan Forrest Closing Words......................................................................Augie Gil We Wish You a Merry Christmas ...........Arr. Jeff Bennett
Olivia Grace Colomaio
Olivia Grace Colomaio (Bradstreet) is a pianist, accompanist, teacher, and doctoral candidate in Piano Pedagogy at the University of South Carolina. She teaches lessons in piano, accompanying, composition, and music theory, and she loves teaching students of all ages, interests, experience levels, and backgrounds! Originally from Bath, NY, she earned her master’s in piano pedagogy and performance from Campbellsville University (Campbellsville, KY), and her bachelor’s degree in piano performance from Roberts Wesleyan University (Rochester, NY) In her previous studies, Olivia was the recipient of the Meskimen Piano Scholarship each year she was at CU, and she was awarded the Theodore Presser Scholarship during her junior year at Roberts She served as an Adjunct Professor of Piano on the Roberts music department faculty as well as serving on the Roberts Community Music School faculty for two years until she moved to Columbia to continue her education at UofSC. Her research focuses on discovering and providing resources for students with dyslexia and neurodivergence. Olivia currently resides in Columbia, SC, with her husband Bailey
Joshua Evanovich
Joshua Evanovich is a pianist, organist, music editor/engraver, and composer/arranger Originally from the Midwest, he studied at Wartburg College in Waverly Iowa. He has worked on a variety of music resources published by Augsburg Fortress, GIA Publications, Lorenz, and Hope Publishing Company He writes in a variety of musical styles and instrumentations, often performs his arrangements in worship services and concert settings. Recreational activities include downhill skiing and playing golf
Augusto Gil
Augusto (Augie) Gil hails from Blountville, Tennessee, but frequently performs, accompanies, teaches, conducts, and adjudicates throughout the southeastern United States, and has traveled to instruct musicians seeking continuing education in several countries throughout Europe and Asia. Mr. Gil earned his Bachelor of Music and certification in K-12 Music Education with double emphases in voice and piano from Carson Newman University. In 2018, he earned a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting at the University of South Carolina, where he studied with Drs. Larry Wyatt and Alicia W. Walker, and is currently completing work for the Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Choral Conducting with a Vocal Performance minor at the University of South Carolina His areas of interest, research, and work include choral pedagogy, classroom pedagogy, musical theatre pedagogy, collaborative piano, and sacred music.
After earning his MM, Augie enjoyed four and a half years as Choral Director at Meadow Glen Middle School in Lexington, South Carolina, where he more than tripled participation in the choral program, established the first cross-disciplinary celebration of Heritage Months in Lexington County schools, and organized and directed a music department wide concert of masterworks arranged for middle school musicians for the school’s 100 member orchestra and 120 voice choir He serves as the Contemporary Worship Director at Eastminster Presbyterian Church of Columbia, and is the owner and operator of Improving Arts Academy, a private instruction and coaching studio for voice and piano students He enjoys working with students of all ages, and leads by example in seeking opportunities for collaboration, innovation in music, and excellence in performance. In January 2023, he will begin conducting the Sandlapper Singers of South Carolina as Artistic Director Augie previously served as International First Vice President for Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity, but currently serves as an advisory member to the organization’s board. He is a member of the Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honors Society, the American Choral Directors Association, and the National Association for Music Educators He is a contributing author to GIA Publications’ Sacred Music Choral Repertoire: Insights for Conductors, and also serves as the Chairman of the Board for Limited Time Only, a Columbia based chamber choir consisting of professional musicians. Mr Gil currently lives in West Columbia, South Carolina with his husband, John Michael, and their dogs, Rose, Apollo, and Tommy. When not creatively focused on music and performance, Augusto enjoys spending time with his chosen family in South Carolina, playing board games, and traveling.
Mary Frances Jowers
Mary Frances Jowers is a lifelong Presbyterian. She started taking piano lessons when she was 5 years old, and she has enjoyed playing the piano ever since Mary Frances earned a B A in government and political economy and philosophy from Wofford College She earned her J.D. from the USC School of Law. She is an Assistant Deputy Attorney General at the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, where she has worked for over 15 years In addition to handling charitable trust matters, she supervises the antitrust unit of the Consumer Protection and Antitrust Section. She enjoys music and spending time with her family.
Chelse Lawson
Chelse received an undergraduate degree in Theatre from the University of Tennessee and a second undergraduate degree in K-12 Music Education from the University of South Carolina She is currently the Choral Director at AC Flora High School and loves helping her students find their passion for music.
Hannah Lea
Hannah Lea is a Music Educator in Lexington, SC Originally from Augusta, GA she attended Presbyterian College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music Education with an emphasis in piano and voice. She began her teaching career in the Gullah community of Beaufort, SC at St Helena Elementary School Hannah then pursued a Masters in Choral Music Education full-time at the University of South Carolina. Upon completion of her degree, Hannah returned to the classroom in Richland District 2 at Bridge Creek Elementary for seven years During her tenure, Hannah received the Teacher of the Year Award for the 2020-2021 school year Now in her tenth year of
teaching, she directs the Chorus and Musical Theatre at Lakeside Middle School in Lexington 1 District. Hannah has also instructed several children’s choirs in the Columbia area including Trinity Cathedral, Cayce United Methodist, and currently serves as Junior Choir Director at Eastminster Presbyterian Church. Hannah is a member of the professional choral chamber group, “Limited Time Only” under the direction of Dr Alicia Walker, as well as a sitting board member.
Tammy Lorick
Tammy Lorick is a retired choral director, music educator, and piano instructor. While at Lexington School District One she served as CoDirector of the Lexington School District One Children’s Honor Choir, was Assistant Choral Director/accompanist/music theory instructor for Tri District Arts Consortium, and has been a participant in the SC Curriculum Leadership in the Arts program, writing both choral and general music curricula for the district and state The choirs have performed at SCMEA Conferences, SCACDA Conferences, the SC Governor’s Carolighting, and with the Lexington County Choral Society She was selected Teacher of the Year at her school and was twice selected as Parent-Teacher Association Outstanding Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Lorick received a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education with choral emphasis and a Master of Music in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina. She achieved her Master’s plus 30 in music education through the College of Charleston, Appalachian State University, and the University of South Carolina Her additional music studies and training were received from Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina and the Sherwood School of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Mrs. Lorick serves as piano accompanist for many ensembles and choral clinics in the Midlands and is a vocal adjudicator.
Lucinda Shields
Lucinda Shields enjoys traveling through musical time and space on piano, organ, and harpsichord keyboards. She has been playing for church services and choirs since childhood in Pennsylvania She studied English literature at the College of William and Mary and University of Exeter, England, then earned a Masters degree in Piano Performance at the Eastman School of Music Relocation to South Carolina in 1984 with her husband, David Shields, opened a door to a 36 year career as a financial advisor. Currently Lucinda is a CFP Board Emeritus® member. She has played for Columbia College operas, Sandlapper Singers, She Sings, and many soloists and churches in Columbia, SC, and accompanied the Hammond School Select Ensemble on 5 European concert tours. She continues to learn from each performance, her collaborators, and from her son Marcus, an opera director.
Walter "Walt" Theus
Walter “Walt” Theus is a lifelong member of Eastminster Presbyterian Church, having been baptized as an infant in early 1954 in the old Brown Building located at the top of the hill. When Walt was 4, his parents bought a piano for his older sister to take lessons. His parents were both musicians and quickly realized that peeling him off of the piano bench was not going to be easy. He was picking out tunes and chords on his own. He started lessons with the late Dr Dode Phillips a few months before he was 5 In the first grade he started lessons with Marjorie Maynard, a childhood friend of his mother who had studied piano performance and pedagogy with Edwin Hughes. He studied with Mrs. Maynard through high school. He also studied during several summers with Ozan Marsh at Chautauqua and Lee Luvisi at Brevard Music Center Walt competed successfully in local and state auditions and competitions He began accompanying at a young age and accompanied and sang in the Dreher High School Chorus. Walt studied piano with Max Camp at U.S.C. and accompanied and sang in the U.S.C. Concert Choir. He majored in international studies and attended law school, receiving his law license from U S C in 1979 After over 12 years of private practice with Boyd, Knowlton, Tate, and Finlay and Sinkler & Boyd, P.A., Walt joined the U.S. Department of Justice in 1992 as a regional specialist in business bankruptcy law. The national office in Washington increasingly used Walt to help with some of the most complex cases throughout the country. Since 2005 Walt has served exclusively as the senior trial attorney in the Chapter 11 Group of the General Counsel’s Office in the Executive Office of U.S. Trustees, telecommuting to Washington from Columbia. Walt is retiring from the active practice of law effective January 1, 2023. He has never quit playing the piano, and he has sung in the Eastminster Choir since 1978, which he says makes him “old ” He is looking forward to doing things with his music during his retirement
