St. John's Epiphany Concert Series

St. John’s Episcopal Church will open its Fifth Annual Epiphany Concert Series with a performance by Dr. Benjamin Woods, pianist, on Sunday, January 10 at 6:00 p.m. in the parish hall.  This concert will be presented in memory of Mrs. Finley Lucas.  Additional concerts are scheduled for January 17 (Florence native April Boyett, soprano), January 24 (Florence Friends of Chamber Music), January 31 (USC Concert Choir), and February 14 (Claire Compton, oboe; Albert K. Roberts, Jr., organ).

The Florence Friends of Chamber Music is a quartet comprised of Daniel Vega-Albela, violin; Scott Rawls, viola; Philip von Maltzahn, cello; and Mary Elizabeth Thompson-Meyer, flute.

Mary Elizabeth Thompson-Meyer grew up in Turbeville, SC, and earned a Bachelor Degree in Music Education from Furman University and a Master of Music Degree from Kent State Univeristy. She is now completing her Doctor of Musical Arts in flute performance at the University of Kansas.  She was semi-finalist in the SC Philharmonic's Young Artist Competition and a concerto winner with the Furman University Symphony Orchestra.  As a graduate assistant at Kent State, she mentored undergraduate students, conducted the University's flute ensemble, and served as principle flute of the Kent State Symphony Orchestra.  Mary Elizabeth has extensive teaching experience on all levels, and is in great demand for ensemble work.

Oboist Claire Compton is in demand by churches and small ensembles throughout the Pee Dee.  She is known for the sensitivity and keen interpretative intuition that she brings to her performances.  Claire is a native of Lexington, South Carolina, where she began playing the oboe at the age of twelve. She is a graduate of Clemson University where she was a member of Tiger Band, the Symphonic Band, and the Honors Woodwind Quintet. She was a charter member of the Kappa Beta Chapter of Kappi Kappa Psi and was selected as one of five Clemson University “Women of Achievement” by the upstate FOX affiliate. While at Clemson, Claire played at Carnegie Hall and with the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra. The highlight of her time with the Spartanburg Philharmonic was playing in ensembles accompanying artists such as Ray Charles, Roberta Flack, Kathie Lee Gifford, Kenny Rogers, CeCe Winans, and Michael W. Smith.

Upon graduation from Clemson, Claire moved to the Florence area. She has been the principal oboist in the Florence Symphony Orchestra since 1999 and the Lake Murray Symphony Orchestra since it began in 2004. She has played as a soloist in churches throughout the state and also enjoys being a part of small orchestras accompanying church choirs, the Masterworks Choir of Florence, and the Lexington County Choral Society. Claire returned home to Lexington in 2002 where she is currently a math teacher and department chair at Lexington High School. 

Dr. Albert K. Roberts, Jr. is Director of Music and Organist for St. David Lutheran Church, where he directs the Jubilate Bell Choir and the St. David Brass.  He is also the musician for Iglesia Cristo Rey.  His hymn arrangements are used in worship, and his compositions for organ, piano, choir, and instruments have been published by Augsburg Fortress and Shawnee Publications.  Several of his arrangements for organ and oboe are included on the February 14 concert program. He is a graduate of the University of South Carolina School of Music.  He and his wife, Frances, have two sons.  He is also a dentist in Lexington, South Carolina.

Click here for a printable copy of the Series brochure.