The first 2026 concert from the Friends of Music & the Arts Series at the
Episcopal church of St. John in the Wilderness will be held at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, January 18 in the
historic church, 1895 Greenville Highway in Flat Rock.
Lucy Owen Hoyt, lyric soprano and Charles Frost, Organist and Conductor, will bring together their
love of music in a program celebrating African American composers and spirituals. The two knew
each other a few years back while attending Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey but
this is their first concert performance together.
A gifted teacher who recently retired from James Madison University Voice faculty, Lucy founded
the Valley Voice Initiative to support emerging artists. She has sung across the Carolinas and the
Shenandoah Valley. She also performed in Scotland at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
Charles, a native of New Jersey, earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at Westminster
Choir College. He has served as Minister of Music at many churches and performed in concerts
across the country. Currently, he leads the Sea Island Singers in Beaufort, South Carolina. He is also
President of The Hymn Society based in Washington, D.C.
Their shared artistry promises an inspiring afternoon of powerful music rooted in faith and tradition.
The music concert is free and open to the public, but donations are encouraged to fund the
ongoing series. Reservations are not necessary.
Free parking and accessible parking are available. For more information call the church office at
828-693-9783 or visit www.stjohnflatrock.org.
