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The University of South Carolina Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Larry Wyatt,

performed at Mayesville Presbyterian Church on April 2, 2017.

REJOICINGS is a reboot of a series that began in 2015 and ran until the fall of 2019 when the Covid pandemic necessitated a pause.  It was developed as a gift to the wider community.  We seek to offer quality concerts of varying musical genres, as well as worship and educational events. 


Bible conferences and the traditional Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols are intended to meet the series’ worship and educational goals. Hymn festivals, held on alternate years in rotation with the Bible conferences, shine a light onto those hymns that have strengthened the worship of the Christian Church over the centuries while offering the opportunity for attendees to revel in the joy that comes from singing these hymns in full voice with friends in faith.


Last season, we were pleased to present the sparkling flute and harp duo of Amy Toner and Mia Venezia, as well as the award-winning Anna Bogolubova, a premiere concert pianist of Ukraine. This season’s two concert offerings promise to be no less engaging.


We were honored to welcome Dr. Derek Thomas, Reformed theologian and author, to lead a Bible conference at the close of the 2023-24 season. This coming season concludes with a hymn festival, which returns to the schedule with a bit of a twist. Instead of focusing on a particular topic or hymnwriter, hymn selections will be inspired by themes portrayed in the church’s vibrant stained glass windows.


While there is no charge to attend any of the Rejoicings events, donations are always gratefully accepted.  Because the series is funded solely by donations, its continuation is reliant upon such gifts.


We are pleased to present the 2024/25 slate of offerings.


KAYLA WILLIAMS: VIOLA & VOICE

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2024

4:00 PM


From bluegrass to classical, jazz and gospel, Kayla Williams crosses genres and styles effortlessly. She describes herself as “an advocate for all music and hopes to diversify music through my own experiences as a Black woman.” Her performances include instrumental and vocal music with piano accompaniment.


Kayla received her Bachelor of Music degree in Viola Performance from the Lynn Conservatory of Music in Boca Raton, Florida, and earned a Master of Music degree in Viola Performance from the Juilliard School. She was a winner of the 2018 Lynn Concerto Competition and has performed as a recitalist at venues around the country. In addition, she has been the guest of music festivals across a range of music genres including the Grand Teton Music Festival, the Florida Folk Festival, and the Pittsburgh International Jazz Festival. She has had both live and recorded performances with Grammy Award winner Jon Batiste (“Freedom”).


Kayla was the recipient of the 2021-2023 Juilliard Career Advancement Fellowship. According to The Juilliard Journal, this award is presented to graduates who “have entered directly into the profession (not immediately pursuing further studies) and have demonstrated not only superior performance and academic merit at Juilliard but also substantial leadership, breadth of engagement, and the potential to make a significant impact in the professional world.”


Kayla will be joined by jazz pianist Chris McCarthy, who is known for his “high skill and sensitivity” (New York Times). He has been hailed by Hot House Jazz Magazine as “one of the most imaginative and impressive voices on the New York jazz scene.”


Enjoy a sample of Kayla and Chris' jazz stylings here.


FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS & CAROLS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2024

5:30 PM


This traditional service was born in 1918 in Truro, England, and soon found its way into the Christmas traditions of all Christian denominations worldwide. It tells the story of Christ’s birth through scripture readings, congregational carols, and choral music. To learn more about the service's origins, click here.


This year at Mayesville Presbyterian Church, the music will be led by organ, choir, handbells, and chamber ensemble. 


A previous year's service bulletin is available to peruse here.

KONRAD PASZKUDZKI: PIANO

"The Great American Songbook"

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2025

4:00 PM


Known for his smooth and sophisticated playing style, Konrad Paszkudzki established a reputation as a leading jazzman in Australia at a young age.  At age 14, he was named the "Young West Australian Instrumentalist of the Year."  At 15, he was accepted into University, studying jazz piano at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).  He graduated with a Bachelor of Music in 2007 and was awarded the Melville Toyota Scholarship for most outstanding graduating student.  In 2008, he was the winner of the Generations in Jazz James Morrison Scholarship, becoming the first pianist in the 20-year history of the competition to earn the prestigious award.  Morrison, a jazz trumpeter, became a mentor of Konrad's and they toured together for two years.


In 2009, Konrad accepted a scholarship to the University of Miami where he earned his master’s degree. Since then, he has played with jazz orchestras in Los Angeles; led the house trio at the coveted New York venue, 54 Below; released several recordings; formed the Konrad Paszkudzki Trio; and joined the John Pizzarelli Quartet, the latter leading to over 1,000 performances worldwide in a period of four years.


In addition to touring and recording, Konrad is Artistic Director of Jazz at the Ballroom, a nonprofit organization committed “to keeping the American Songbook and swinging, classic jazz thriving ... and providing audiences with one-of-a-kind experiences.”  The Great American Songbook covers significant 20th-century American jazz standards, popular songs, and show tunes by such composers as George Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Lerner & Loewe, and Rodgers & Hammerstein.


World renowned trumpeter Wynton Marsalis has described Konrad as having "a pearly touch, a sense of history, a sense of drama, a love of the blues, and an elegance which is borne of high minded dedication."

 

Click here to listen to a sampling of Konrad's pianistic artistry. 

 

HYMN FESTIVAL

SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2025

4:00 PM


What is a hymn festival?  Primarily, it is an event focused on congregational singing.  Typically, the hymn selections are centered around a particular theme or hymnwriter, and are connected by narrations that describe something of each hymn's author/composer, its origins, and its connection to the festival's theme.  There is nothing quite like the joy that comes from full-voiced singing of traditional hymns with a crowd of fellow hymn-lovers.


Mayesville Presbyterian Church has been presenting hymn festivals since 2015.  Each has focused on a specific theme or a particular hymnwriter. Isaac Watts, Dwight Moody, and Fanny Crosby are a few hymnwriters that have been featured over the years. This season, we turn to the Mayesville church’s vibrant stained glass windows for inspiration.  Join us to learn about the windows and sing familiar traditional hymns suggested by the windows’ themes.  If you have an interest in stained glass windows or find joy in singing hymns with like-minded lovers of traditional hymnody, this event is for you! 


Choir, organ, brass, and guest pianist Mark Burns will be on hand to support the congregational singing.


Click here to view a sample bulletin.

If you would like to make a donation toward the continuation and support of the Rejoicings series, you may do so through this website on the Giving page.  Please choose "Church Mission/Rejoicings" on the dropdown menu that appears on the donation form under "fund." 


If you prefer to give via standard check, please note "Rejoicings" on the memo line and mail your check to the church at

P.O. Box 141, Mayesville, SC  29104.


At-the-door gifts at series events are welcome as well.


Please accept our warmest appreciation for your gift.
The development and continuation of the series is dependent

upon donor support. 

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