Constellation Concert Series: Music in the Observatory

Sometimes, just sometimes, fate has its way, and the stars align to expose something truly magnificent, beautiful and unique. A trifecta if you will. This is the origin of EZ/PT. One lonely evening whilst entertaining a bowl of soup an idea started to form that would challenge the musical expectations of folks in South Carolina and beyond forever. What if Zach Seibert of EZ Shakes teamed up with Kelly Porterfield and Sean Thomson of Post Timey String Band? Forming what future generations would probably refer to as “a really good mash up”, they joined forces and began working tirelessly at creating alternate versions of each other’s songs. What developed was quirky, beautiful and most importantly fun. Taking a bit more of a stripped down approach to the material they were able to create something that sounded unlike either band, something that was all its own and special. With harmonies galore, kooky arrangements and stories to match they promise to charm even the hardest of hearts.

Tendaji Bailey is a Gullah Geechee artist, storyteller, and cultural preservationist from Port Royal and St. Helena Island, South Carolina. Through song, spoken word, and immersive performance, he transforms memory into art that uplifts the resilience and creativity of the Gullah Geechee people. His recent work, SEEKING|SOARING: Gullah Resilience Songs, blends ancestral traditions with contemporary expression, carrying forward stories of land, water, and community.

Gallus Camerata is a new choral ensemble based out of Columbia SC, founded in December 2024. Gallus Camerata’s eight core members rehearse and perform as an octet while regularly strengthening their musicianship with the collaboration of guest singers and clinicians. An A capella chamber choir, the ensemble leads each other without conductor or instruments. Aiming to demonstrate values of excellence in performance and equity in operation, the group’s practice is built on a shared sense of duty toward their communities and an ambition to engage their voices to find fresh, bold paths to a brighter future. Gallus Camerata’s performance repertoire spans early Renaissance through contemporary choral works, but the ensemble is most emboldened and enlightened when singing pieces from a diversity of 21st century composers.