The Palmetto Opera at Ebenezer Lutheran Church

Join The Palmetto Opera for a free concert in October!

Patrons and Friends of the Arts at Ebenezer and The Palmetto Opera will present a breathtaking operatic performance on Sunday, October 26th at 4:00 pm in the sanctuary of Ebenezer by Columbia vocalists Taylor Johnson, soprano and Dr. Johnnie Felder, tenor. Also featured are Helen Meacham, collaborative pianist with Dr. Peter Barton, Artistic Director of The Palmetto Opera, as Master of Ceremonies.

This concert will showcase best loved arias and duets from La Bohème, Turandot, Porgy and Bess, Susannah, A View from the Bridge and so much more!

Come and enjoy exceptional music, an elegant setting, and perhaps a glass of champagne whether you're a seasoned aficionado or a curious newcomer!

This concert is free and open to the public.

Sunday, October 26th at 4:00PM 

Ebenezer Lutheran Church

1301 Richland St., Columbia, SC 29201

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Taylor Johnson, Soprano

As her mother tells it, Taylor has been gracing stages since the tender age of 2, debuting at her family church with her grandmother accompanying at the piano. Once seated, the little girl whispered to her mom, “I want to go back” and she’s been singing ever since. The South Carolina native gravitated to opera and classical music in middle school, loving the dramatic outlet of expression, a sentiment that she still holds and exhibits to this day.

An alumna of Florida State University and Converse College, Johnson wields a thrilling and emotive spinto soprano voice, leaning into chamber music, oratorios, spirituals, and concert works, such as the Verdi Requiem, Mozart Requiem, and Carmina Burana. She’s been a guest soloist for the Philadelphia Orchestra, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, and the Charleston Symphony Orchestra. An enthusiastic competitor, Taylor is a1st place winner of the Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition and a 2nd place winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (southeastern region). She had the privilege to be a guest artist for the unveiling of the National Historical Marian Anderson Museum’s commissioned statue of the legendary contralto in Philadelphia, PA. Johnson has also performed internationally as the titular character in Suor Angelica with the Operafestival di Roma. Stateside, Taylor attended the Chautauqua Opera Young Artist Program in New York. She made her operatic debut as Strawberry Woman in Cincinnati Opera’s run of Porgy and Bess, garnering an honorable mention in its 2012 review of Opera News. Johnson breathed life into the role of Hecuba in the original chamber opera work, Troiades by Dr. David Berry, debuting the character, written with her voice as inspiration.

In addition to performing, Johnson worked in her hometown of Orangeburg, as a faculty member at Claflin University, sharing her joy of singing through vocal pedagogy and creativity. During her time there, Johnson developed a penchant for scriptwriting, and created several innovative opera scenes showcases for her students, combining poetry, monologues, improv and classical song.

Taylor currently resides in Columbia, SC with her beautiful daughter, Cadence Melody. She is

currently developing a quasi-autobiographical one-woman show and plans to open an online vocal studio in the spring of 2026.

Dr. Johnnie J. Felder, Tenor

Johnnie J. Felder, tenor, is a native of Vance, South Carolina and holds bachelor and graduate music degrees from Benedict College and the University of South Carolina respectively. In 2022, Mr. Felder earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Vocal Performance. He has also undergone extensive vocal training in the opera studio of the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria, and in the soloist program of the 20th annual Varna International Music Academy Festival. An expressive opera singer known for his impressive range, lyricism, and captivating vocal power, Felder made his 2019 European debut in Varna, Bulgaria as Rinuccio in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi. Felder’s leading roles include Beppe in Donizetti’s Rita, Don Ottavio in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Nemorino in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, and Tamino in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Felder was an inaugural member of the 2022 Spoleto Festival USA Choral and Vocal Fellowship (Charleston, SC). Felder was a member of the brilliantly captivating chorus in the world premiere of Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels’ new opera, Omar, conducted by Maestro John Kennedy. Felder also stepped in, at moment’s notice, for renowned tenor, Paul Groves, in three performances on the Spoleto Festival Chamber Music Series in a world premiere of 5 Songs of Stevie Wonder with internationally acclaimed pianist and composer, Stephen Prutsman, at Charleston’s historic Dock Street Theatre.

Dr. Peter A. Barton, Master of Ceremonies

Artistic Director, Board of Directors The Palmetto Opera

Dr. Peter Barton, baritone, trained in opera, music and drama at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Texas at Austin. Later in his life, he obtained his Master of Music degree from Winthrop University and completed his doctorate in voice performance at the University of South Carolina in Fall 2011. His voice teaching background includes many years of private voice studio teaching as well as institutional positions with Georgetown University and the University of South Carolina. He currently accepts select students into his studio, both virtually and in person.

Dr. Barton was involved in recital work, musical theater and opera in the Washington DC area for twenty years. He performed with the Washington Opera Society for five seasons, the Maryland Opera Studio for four seasons and has given recitals at Georgetown University and American University. He has been active in the Southeast region for the last fifteen years, performing Dr. Falke in DIE FLEDERMAUS, Count Almaviva in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO and the title role in GIANNI SCHICCHI. Other major roles include: Figaro in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, Malatesta in DON PASQUALE, Germont in LA TRAVIATA, Michele in IL TABARRO, Ravenal in SHOWBOAT, Tommy in BRIGADOON, Billy Bigelow in CAROUSEL and the Pirate King in THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE.

At Georgetown University, Dr. Barton directed all performing arts programs and was instrumental in establishing an Artist in Residence program, which brought prominent musicians and artists to the university community. For ten years, he was the Director of the Vocal and Opera Program for the Amalfi Coast Music & Arts Festival in Italy. Mr. Barton worked for The Department of the Treasury, Price Waterhouse, The Export Import Bank of the U.S. and Fannie Mae in the business, technology and finance world. In higher education, he worked for George Washington University and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Helen Meacham, Pianist

With over four decades of collaborative piano experience at the collegiate and professional level, Helen Meacham brings a vast knowledge of the art form as she accompanies our artists today. She has performed in Dinant, Belgium at The Adolph Sax International Competition and toured across South Africa with the Lincoln University Concert Choir. Most recently, she has worked at two historically black universities, Lincoln University (PA) and Claflin University (South Carolina), where she served as Staff Pianist and Professor of Music, traveling extensively across the United States. In addition, she has taught and performed at West Chester University (PA), University of Delaware, Averett University (Danville, VA) and Florida State University (Tallahassee). A native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, she holds degrees from Delta State University (Cleveland, MS) and Florida State University.