Local Composers to Share Simple Gifts of Music with Public

Aiken, SC (10/22/2019) — The Aiken Composers Guild presents Simple Gifts, its first recital of the academic year, on Oct. 28, at 7:30 p.m., in the Etherredge Center for the Visual and Performing Arts on the campus of the University of South Carolina Aiken.

The performance is free and open to the public.

"For the opening concert, the guild decided to create music inspired by a central musical theme - Simple Gifts, an old Shaker hymn," said Dr. Mark Hollingsworth, dean of the USC Aiken College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences and founder of the Aiken Composers Guild.

Several works by USC Aiken composers will be featured as part of the concert, including music by Hollingsworth; Dr. Richard Maltz, professor of music emeritus; and J.R. Hall, adjunct instructor of music. Community composers who will be included are: Adams Mitchell, USC Aiken Class of '02, David Neches, and Andrew Goslen, a retired nuclear engineer.

Members of the Aiken Composers Guild will perform the original musical selections. Additional performers include: Keely Rhodes, mezzo-soprano; USC Aiken's Assistant Professor of Music David Culp, double bass; and Liam Culp, violin.

"This is truly a collaborative community effort, and the Aiken Composers Guild and our artistic partners are thrilled to present Simple Gifts," Hollingsworth said.

Hollingsworth and Maltz established the guild earlier this year. The mission of the Aiken Composers Guild is to "inspire, create and cultivate new music."

For more information, contact: Hollingsworth at 803-641-3784 or via e-mail at: MarkH@usca.edu .