The Zephyr Trio plays a lively set of Celtic music – old and new – to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in style. Three Charleston favorites: Karin McQuade (fiddle and vocals), Abigail Kent (award-winning harpist), and Susan Conant (flutes, whistles, vocals) collaborate for a new venture that showcases each of their distinctive gifts. Tickets are $25 for members and $35 for nonmembers. To purchase tickets, please call 843-723-9912 or click here
McQuade and Kent formed a Celtic combo during their SOA years but split to explore different paths through college. Meanwhile, Conant and McQuade fashioned a musical partnership while playing with local band, Good Foot. As Zephyr, the three join together to branch out in new directions. McQuade takes the lead with her stunning Gaelic vocals and unique fiddle style. Harpist, Abigail Kent, a star in her own right, alternates between providing a harmonic base and crafting brilliant solos. Conant helps knit the group together providing organizational structure while adding colorful accents on flute, recorders, whistles and back-up vocals.
McQuade explores styles ranging from Celtic music and gutsy contra dance tunes to oldie covers and indie originals with a diverse group of Charleston-based ensembles including Tea and Whiskey, Contra Force, Good Foot, Na Fidlieri and Yr Lad. She maintains a busy teaching studio and gigs throughout the Southeast.
Harpist, Abigail Kent, is the 2017–19 touring “Concert Artist” of the American Harp Society after winning the prestigious Pan-American solo competition. Currently, she is presenting solo recitals and teaching masterclasses throughout the US and Canada, while also having been a featured harp soloist for the 2017 World Harp Congress in Hong Kong, a Laureate Finalist at the 2017 Classics Alive management search in Los Angeles, and named the February 2018 “New Artist of the Month” for Musical America International Magazine. Ms. Kent studied for a year at the Royal Academy of Music in London, and then was selected as the Maryjane Mayhew Barton Fellow at The Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia where she graduated with the Landis Award for Excellence in Academics. Currently, she is a Presidential Scholar studying with Emmanuel Ceysson, Principal Harpist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, in the Masters of Music program at Mannes School of Music in New York City.
Susan Conant is a seasoned performer and teacher on flutes, whistles and recorders. As Interim Music Director for the Unitarian Church in Charleston, Conant conducts the choir and organizes and directs an energetic and diverse music program. She has played in and for a variety of local ensembles including Brazilian music band, Porto Seguro, Duo Dos, Charleston Pro Musica, Good Foot, Na Fidlieiri and the Charleston Symphony Spiritual Choir. Most recently she played recorder for the Charleston Symphony’s Harry Potter concert. She composes chamber music and has recorded two discs of her own compositions