By the Rivers of Babylon
Encore Performance
Monday, September 30, 2024 | 6:30pm
Mt. Zion AME Church
5 Glebe Street, Charleston, SC
FREE ADMISSION
2024/25 Season Highlights
Season Opener: By the Rivers of Babylon: Kicking off the season in September, Lowcountry Voices presents an encore performance of their standing-room-only concert, "By the Rivers of Babylon." This musical journey, through a captivating blend of traditional spirituals and hymns, reflects the endurance and resilience of the human spirit. Expect an evening of hauntingly beautiful melodies and poignant reflections that are the trademark of LCV performances.
A Soulful Holiday: Celebrating the Season with Soul: As the holiday season approaches, LCV will usher in the festive spirit with 'A Soulful Holiday. This post-Thanksgiving weekend concert will sparkle with soulful renditions of holiday classics, embracing the joy and warmth of the season. Attendees can anticipate an uplifting experience filled with the choir's unique blend of contemporary and traditional holiday favorites, promising to brighten heartstrings and bring cheer.
Honoring Dr. King's Legacy: Chains: In January, Lowcountry Voices will return to North Charleston, SC with their profoundly moving Martin Luther King, Jr. concert entitled 'Chains. Through powerful musical storytelling, this performance will honor Dr. King's enduring legacy and highlight the ongoing journey towards freedom and equality. This tribute concert is a time-honored tradition in the community ano continues to inspire all who attend.
Tribute to Robert Ray: Gospel Mass: February brings homage to the late Robert Ray with a special performance of his 'Gospel Mass.' This deeply spiritual and impactful work will reverberate through the hearts of those who witness it, as LCV pays tribute to Ray's significant contributions to music and culture The choir's dedication to preserving his memory through song ensures this concert will be a poignant and memorable experience.
Season Finale: Connections: Concluding their incredible 12th season in May, Lowcountry Voices will debut 'Connections. This innovative concert will explore the rich cultural ties between the Carolinas and Barbados, narrating a compelling story through song and dance. This performance promises to be a vibrant, evocative celebration of heritage and unity, demonstrating the choir's ongoing commitment to deepening cultural appreciation and understanding. The choir is currently preparing to travel to Barbados for their 2025 Summer Tour, where they will perform this concert for an international audience.
A unique choral experience, Lowcountry Voices is a multicultural and ethnically diverse choral performing arts organization based in North Charleston, SC, USA. It performs all genres of choral music with an emphasis on African-American music performed in the South Carolina Lowcountry tradition. Its repertoire includes traditional and contemporary gospel music, spirituals, hymns, jazz, classical choral music, along with music from the theater and movies. It shares the musical flavor of the Lowcountry in multiple venues throughout the Lowcountry of South Carolina, as well as throughout the state of South Carolina, throughout the United States, and internationally.
Director Nathan L. Nelson
Nelson began playing drums at age eight. By age thirteen, he began organizing and directing local gospel and school choirs. For four seasons (2008 -2012) he was the music director for the CSO Spiritual Ensemble and the CSO Spiritual Ensemble Chorale. He served as the Associate Director for the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Gospel Choir, directs the Perpetual Praise Chorale, and is Minster of Music for the Tri-County Chapter of the Gospel Music Workshop of America.
Mr. Nelson, a well-regarded public school music educator and administrator, continues to work in the public education field and currently is the Interim Principal of the new Simmons Pinckney Middle School. He is called upon to conduct choral clinics for church musicians, choral groups, and orchestras and also helps initialize and enhance church music departments. He has conducted and performed in England and Africa and mesmerized sold out audiences throughout the Southeast.
He served as a vocal trainer and choir director for many renowned gospel singers and has shared the stage and worked with the late Rev. James Cleveland, Shirley Caesar, Dorothy Norwood, Daryl Coley, Hezekiah Walker, Larnell Harris, Earnest Pugh, the late Moses Hogan, Dr. Andre’ Thomas, Dr. Roland Carter, Dr. Jeffery Ames, Dr. Jeffery Redding, Sandra S. Barnhardt, and Vincent L. Danner. Mr. Nelson holds a BA Degree in Music Education with an emphasis on Choral Music and Secondary Education from Charleston Southern University and an MS in Educational Leadership and Supervision from Cappella University.