Bel Canto Singers Bahamas, Spring Tour Concert set for June 3 in Irmo
May 19, 2017
The Bel Canto Singers are once again delighted to present “Music for All Times,” a concert to be June 3 at 6:30pm at St. Simon St. Jude Episcopal Church on 1110 Kinley Road in Irmo, South Carolina. The singers will be accompanied by nine string players from the South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestra along with notable brass and percussion players from Nassau, The Bahamas.
The concert is free. A love offering will be received.
Prior to coming to the U.S. to be with you, the group will commence its 12th season with a weekend of celebrations in Nassau, New Providence with a Champagne Dinner and Dance at the Balmoral Club on Thursday, May 26th followed by a grand concert on Saturday, May 28th at Christ Church Cathedral.
From cherished classical sacred music selections to modern classics, the eclectic programm will include spirituals, contemporary Christian compositions by Craig Courtney, a compelling piece by Mark Hayes called “Prayer for the Children,” and the operatic aria “Chi il bel sogno di Doretta” from La Rondine by Puccini, which was made famous by Leontyne Price and Montserrat Caballe. The Bel Canto Singers are pleased and privileged to present a most beautiful vocal arrangement of Pacabel’s Canon in D “I Will Lift My Eyes” for women’s voices arranged by Dr. Sandra Teel with organ arrangement by F. Drummond Wolff and chamber string arrangement by Alexandra Brayant.
The Bel Canto Singers’ 12th anniversary concert season and tour are in memory of Judy McPhee-Glover, who transitioned on January 15th, 2017 and was the sister of the group’s director and founder, Eldridge McPhee, and also in memory of Dr. Jesse Teel, retired Professor of Marketing at the Darla Moore Business School of Business at the University of South Carolina, who transitioned in September 2016. He was the husband of Dr. Sandra Teel, a retired Associate Director of the Division of Research and Instructor at Darla Moore School of Business of the University of South Carolina. Both Drs. Sandra and Jesse Teel have been long-time supporters of the Bel Canto singers and served as mentors to Eldridge when he lived in Columbia, South Carolina. What started as their working together developed into a lifelong friendship.
Eldridge McPhee, the Bel Canto Singers Bahamas’ Founder and Director, is no stranger to Columbia, South Carolina. Mr. McPhee is a 1988 graduate of Benedict College, Division of Business, with degree in accounting. In addition, he completed sufficient courses to qualify for a degree in music. Having already worked in professional settings in The Bahamas before entering his undergraduate program at Benedict, he was accepted to the Master of Business Administration program at the University of South Carolina, successfully completing that program in May 1990. He worked at Benedict College and then at PepsiCo – Southern Regional Office in Columbia – as a Finance Manager for four years – leaving Columbia in December 1995.
Mr. McPhee is a proud member of the oldest historically black fraternity – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. – where he served as the undergraduate (Gamma Pi – Benedict College) chapter’s Vice President and President in his junior and senior years respectively at Benedict College. He was also honored to have been selected undergraduate College Brother of The Year for his fraternity for the State of South Carolina. In addition, having earned the highest grade point average among all honorees, he was commended at the regional level as Regional College Brother selected from all Southeastern honorees. He is currently an active member of Iota Epsilon Lambda graduate chapter in Nassau, The Bahamas.
The mission of the Bel Canto Singers Bahamas is to create a safe space and atmosphere that encourages and nurtures its members to live consciously, with a deep sense of civic responsibility. Members are passionate about personal and musical growth and excellence, and the above attributes are demonstrated though the production of both local and international world-class concerts. Through the medium of the arts, the choir provides opportunities for self-growth, development, and training, as it continues to create responsible and confident citizens while building an enduring national cultural institution.
