Charleston Music Hall – OFFICIAL WEBSITE

COVID-19 POLICY:

Please note The Charleston Music Hall will be requiring all fans to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours OR full COVID-19 vaccination for entry to all events at the venue. In addition, all bags MUST be clear. Small clutches will be permitted. Additional policies may apply on a show-by-show basis. More details available at charlestonmusichall.com/faqs. Please note that government mandates, venue protocols and event requirements are subject to change, so be sure to check CharlestonMusicHall.com for the latest information. Please email [email protected] if you have any questions.

PechaKucha:

PechaKucha, Japanese for “chit chat,” is a presentation style in which 20 slides are shown for 20 seconds each (6 minutes and 40 seconds in total) keeping presentation concise, fast-paced, and powerful. Charleston Music Hall is proud to be the official venue and producer of PechaKucha Charleston. The Music Hall, with help from our collaborators and artist liaison Terry Fox, hopes to focus on developing a strong, interesting, and diverse presenter line up from an array of different artistic, creative, and entrepreneurial disciplines and encourage collaboration, communication, and support in Charleston’s creative community.

Randi Weinstein:

Native New Yorker and Charleston resident for just as long, Randi Weinstein has worked in and around the hospitality industry her whole life. As Director of Events for the Charleston Wine + Food Festival for eight years, she helped elevate Charleston’s growing food and beverage scene, but doesn’t take credit for the current shit show that’s happening on our streets.

Randi co-founded her next gig, Bad Bitches, with two food and beverage pros with a mission to showcase womxn’s rise, decade by decade, from home kitchens to the hospitality industry. The goal was simple, raise money to provide scholarships and help womxn in the F&B community advance in their chosen careers. The success of Bad Bitches deepened Randi’s passion for educating and empowering womxn in hospitality – and forged the path for the creation of FAB, A business workshop, which kicked off in June 2017.

FAB is entering into year 6 and keeps pushing the ball forward in efforts to keep woman educated, connected and inspired.

Kerri Forrest:

Kerri directs the arts, land conservation, and collections programs in the Lowcountry region. A Charleston native, Kerri returned to the Holy City in 2010 after a 16-year career covering politics with national broadcast outlets MSNBC, NBC NEWS, and CBS NEWS.  For four years, she was the Director of Institutional Advancement with the American College of the Building Arts, the only institution of higher education in the U.S. offering a liberal arts degree in traditional building crafts. She joined the Foundation in February 2015. Kerri is heavily involved in the arts and civic communities and has served with many local and regional organizations including the Friends of the Lowcountry Lowline; TEDxCharleston; the South Carolina Arts Commission Leo Twigg Scholars. In addition, she has been an adjunct professor of professional communications and public speaking at the Art Institute of Charleston and of fundraising at the College of Charleston. Kerri graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biological Sciences from Clemson University in 1994, a Masters of Arts in Interactive Journalism from American University in 2001, became a DLI Riley Fellow in 2013, and is a member of the Liberty Fellowship Class of 2018. She is currently a board member of the Women’s Rights and Empowerment Network and The Liberty Fellowship and a member of the One Region Executive Committee.

Gino Castillo:

Jazz artist of the year City Paper Music Awards 2K winer
(2013 & 2014 )
Jazz artist of the year Independent Tone Awards 2K winer (2015 & 2016)
Tour, Recording, Educator and Clinician Percussionist, Composer and Singer.
His Background included:
Honorary degree in percussion teaching, giving for George Gershwin Conservatory
Percussion studies in: Caturla Conservatory, Felix Varela Conservatory, and many private lesson Including several years of weekly sessions with Oscarito Valdes (Cuba)

Since then, his musical talent has been heard in many
albums and live shows, as he has collaborated with many international artists, such as:
Earl Klugh, Al Turner, Michael Mossman, Quentin Baxter, Etienne Charles, Horacio el Negro Hernández, Oscarito Valdés, Eddie Venegas, Charleston Jazz Orchestra, Charleston Smooth Jazz Orchestra, Lowcountry Latin Jazz Collective
Charleston Latin Jazz Collective, Jose Pepito Gomez, John Benítez,
Pascoal Meirelles, Paulo Moura, Alex Alvear, Jessy J, Zacai Curtis, Ymelda Marie-Louisa, etc…
His Teaching experience included
Berklee College of Music International Network
Centro de Percusion latina GC
Conservatory George Gershwin and more than 200 Clinics with Sabian Cymbals and Pearl Drums.
Currently is Exclusively artist of Bophorus Cymbals, Pearl Percussion and Pro-Mark drum sticks

Alex Lira:

James Beard Award semi-finalist and luminary in the Charleston restaurant scene, Chef Alex Lira first worked his way through the kitchens of Richmond, VA, landing his first executive gig at Avalon.

In New York City, Alex honed his technique at Craft under renowned Chef Tom Colicchio. But it was Brooklyn’s sister restaurants Diner and Marlow & Sons that allowed the chef to develop the artistry that still shines through his dishes today.

A focus on the food, dedication to local ingredients, and mindfulness of experience gained Lira a loyal following at The Lot on James Island and earned him a James Beard nomination for Best Chef at Bar Normandy.

Alex is currently a partner at locally beloved Bar George. When not in the kitchen, he can be found catching waves on his longboard or hunting for chanterelles with his dog Bernie.

Greg Colleton:

A native of McClellanville, SC, Greg Colleton developed a passion for the arts as a young visual artist at Charleston County School of the Arts. He then went to Winston-Salem State University, where he received a BA in studio arts with a concentration in sculpture. As a NC undergrad, Greg was the regional student rep/curator for the 4D Gallery, Dada Center of the Arts, and the University Gallery.

Greg moved back to Charleston to pursue his career in arts management. With a desire to highlight the “gray area” of art in Charleston, he opened a gallery/ pop up art concept, Gris Galerie with current Yo Art Executive Director Elizabeth Bowers. Greg curated a 2016 Piccolo Spoleto show, Clemson University Art Department CSA, Greenville Artisphere festival, Charleston Parks Conservancy. He has been a juror for SOA’s application process and several other selection committees statewide and worked as Director of Operations at Redux Contemporary Art Center for six years. Last year, Greg assumed the role of as Executive Director of Yo Art INC.”

Allyson Sutton:

Allyson Sutton is an entrepreneur, writer, and brand strategist with a passion for community building and socially responsible business.

She is the co-founder of Sightsee Shop, a travel-inspired retail shop and coffee bar in downtown Charleston, as well as Huskwell, a social enterprise offering high-quality cascara (loose leaf coffee cherry tea) direct-to-consumer and to hospitality partners. Allyson is also the co-founder of Playswell & Co., a multi-disciplinary studio with clients spanning across software, digital advertising, and retail.

Her companies have been mentioned in The New York Times and Saveur, and her writing work has appeared in The Art Mag, PAPER Magazine, and Forbes, to name a few.

In her spare time, Allyson can be found walking through Hampton Park with her husband Joel and their two pups, curating a new playlist, or sipping a negroni al fresco.

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Stephen Washington:

Charleston native, Stephen Washington is arguably one of the most skillful piano virtuosos of his time. Born to musical parents, it’s no surprise to hear that his first instrument was the drums at age 5. He began to teach himself the piano at the age of 9 and has been playing at his dad’s church since the early age of 11.

Although Stephen’s musical life has been rooted in Gospel, his influences have spanned multiple genres to include Country, Hip Hop, 80’s Rock, & more. He’s played for Cee Cee Winans, Travis Greene, Hootie and the Blowfish, and many others.

Stephen has traveled extensively throughout the world to include Madrid, Spain and Addis-Ababa, Ethiopia spreading the healing power of music to the masses. His passion for music has always been at the forefront of who he is and outside of his boundless musical capabilities, he’s most known for his abilty to be a phemonemal band leader while maintaining a consitant team player attitude.

Today, Stephen can be found as the Musical Director for powerhouse vocalist and fellow hometown celebrity, Quiana Parler (Ranky Tanky) and her legendary band; Quiana Parler & Friends. He is a keyboardist for American Idol Season 11 finalist, Elise Testone, BlackNoyze band, & the Zandrina Dunning Experience, and is a member of Nashville singer/songwriter Patrick Davis’s Midnight Choir. Stephen also writes and produces for several other artists both locally and nationally.

Most recently, Stephen has started a podcast that can be heard live every Tuesday at 1pm through Ohm Radio, 96.3FM called Steve’s House where he’s interviewed Grammy Award Winning Artist, Charlton Singleton (Ranky Tanky), The Voice’s Aaron Hines, and many other notable fellow creatives. He is also working on his EP, Son of a Preacher, which will travel the edges of Gospel, Country and Rock but the ultimate feel will be soul.

When asked what he appreciates most about being able to play music he stated that “Music has the ability to make people communicate without speaking.” “It’s its own language that is understood by everyone.”

Josh Capeder:

Josh Capeder is a brand identity designer in Charleston, SC.  Since 2013, he’s worked with brands to elevate and empower their visual presence. Josh has shaped identities for organizations that are building relationships in the community and beyond. He is focused on creating modern yet timeless design systems to generate superior impressions for businesses large and small. “I’ve discovered that handling a project as something that is my own… something personal… the more effective it becomes.” Josh is a resident of Park Circle living with his labrador retriever and tabby cat. He is looking forward to his wedding with fiance, Laura, in 2022.

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Michael Smallwood - Emcee:

Michael Smallwood is an actor, writer, and director. He joined the PURE Theatre Core Ensemble in 2011. Some of his credits include The Royale, Marie Antoinette, The Agitators, and The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, among many others. He is an award-winning playwright and filmmaker. His film credits include the Emmy-winning CBS series The Inspectors, the Netflix original movie Naked, and Halloween Kills. Michael hosts the podcast Welcome to Greendale, and is the arts editor for the Charleston City Paper.

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Professor Ping - DJ:

Professor Ping, aka DJ Josh Silverman, has been the house DJ for PechaKucha since the early days.  His style blends old school, breakbeat, rare groove, and electronic tracks in a continuous mix that will blow your headphones.  He produces a weekly radio show, Class with Professor Ping, that broadcasts nationally on the Fleet Radio Network and is the Music Director of LA based Lo Fly Radio.  For more information and to listen in, visit www.professorping.com.

Julia Deckman:

Julia Deckman is a visual artist and creative collaborator based in Charleston, SC. She is a self-taught painter, exploring a range of composition styles while always remaining focused on color. She is inspired by the exchanges between light, structure and negative space. Her recent abstract compositions aim to study the subtle and dynamic relationships between color, form and texture.

“I have discovered that my color obsession is my through line, influencing all of my pieces regardless of style or composition. In color I have found myself.”

Julia was named the 2019 Lowcountry Artist of the Year, has served on the board of Redux Contemporary Art Center, and owns and operates a retail shop, exhibition space and bottle shop from her studio on James Island.