MLK Day was celebrate in Flat Rock at St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church with a voice and organ recital honoring Negro spirituals.

Soprano Lucy Owen Hoyt, a Valley resident, and organist Charles D. Frost of Red Bank, New Jersey presented the program.  Both artists were classmates who attended Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey.  Each have had impressive musical careers over the years.  After graduating their careers blossomed as they performed throughout the United States.

Charles Frost received both the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Church Music.  As a graduate student, he was the teacher of all of the organ minors at Westminster.  He served as Minster of Music in churches in CA. NY. & MI.  He retired as the Minister of Music and the organist at First Presbyterian Church, Hilton Head.

Lyric soprano Lucy Hoyt has enjoyed an active career as a recitalist, oratorio soloist, and teacher of voice.  She has degrees from Westminster Choir College, James Madison University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance.   She is retired from the Voice Faculty at James Madison University.  She is the founding director of Valley Initiative, a new project to bring emerging vocal artists to the Upstate.

Together, organist Charles Frost and soprano Lucy Hoyt filled the church with beautiful spiritual selections.  

St. John in the Wilderness Friends of Music & the Arts brings music to Flat Rock throughout the year. The Blue Ridge Ringers will present a program on May 10th at 4 p.m. in their Parish Hall.   The church is located at 1895 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock.