PechaKucha 47

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 Charleston Arts Festival 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.

Violinist Lydia Chernicoff is the Founder and Artistic Director of New Muse Concerts, a concert series defined by its daring programming and lively, casual atmosphere. New Muse Concerts presents classical and contemporary chamber repertoire in the context of diverse musical traditions, exploring the interplay between them, and telling stories that reveal their cultural and historical connections. New Muse partners with other arts and educational organizations to present free, multidisciplinary concerts across the city of Charleston.

As an advocate for reframing classical music as an inclusive art form, and for promoting creative collaboration across the arts, Lydia has been featured in Charleston Magazine’s Arts Profile, The Post & Courier, Charleston City Paper, and as a presenter at PechaKucha 39 — a speaker series spotlighting members of Charleston’s creative community.

Lydia has performed as a recitalist, chamber musician, and orchestral player throughout the US, and in Europe, China, and South America. In 2007, she founded Trio Appassionata alongside cellist, Andrea Casarrubios, and pianist, Ronaldo Rolim.

She has collaborated with the PostClassical Ensemble, Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, INSCAPE Chamber Orchestra, and Alarm Will Sound, and has served on the chamber music faculty of Peabody Conservatory’s Preparatory Division, and as the director of the Homewood Chamber Music Program at Johns Hopkins University. Locally, Lydia performs regularly with the Charleston Symphony and New Muse Concerts.

Lydia received her Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Peabody Conservatory as a student of Violaine Melançon, and her Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Maryland as a student of James Stern.

Lydia lives on James Island with her husband Jaan Rannik, an attorney and classical guitarist, their daughter Eva, and their rescue coonhound, Mr. Bennett.

Josh Silverman has been a DJ in Charleston since 2003, blending old school, breakbeat, rare groove, and electronic dance tracks in a continuous mix of genres and generations, and he hosts parties and karaoke nights at venues throughout the city.

Josh also founded Charleston Event Pros, his family-run business focused on weddings, corporate event production, and high energy community programming.

Josh has been the house DJ for PechaKucha since the early days.

For more information visit @sounds.like.josh on Instagram or www.charlestoneventpros.com on the web.

Angel Holmes is a pioneering Experience Architect and founder who transforms ordinary professional interactions into extraordinary, purpose-driven journeys. Through her leadership of landmark events like the Charleston Wine + Food Festival (20,000+ attendees) and BevCon, along with groundbreaking achievements such as the first-ever public event at Historic Fort Sumter, she has consistently demonstrated her ability to create environments where professionals don’t just network—they transform.

As founder of Sipindipity, LLC, Like Minded CHS, and the upcoming Brighter Side Society (launching 2025), Angel combines visionary conceptualization with meticulous execution and inclusive community building. She doesn’t just plan events or build communities—she architects experiences that inspire, connect, and transform, generating lasting impact for both individuals and industries.

Geoff Yost is a writer, designer, and communications professional in Charleston, S.C., and the Director of Marketing & Communications at Spoleto Festival USA, the United States’s premier international performing arts festival. Previously, he was a strategic communications and digital strategy consultant for arts and cultural institutions. He began his career in high-profile political events, including work for the Obama White House and the 2012 Democratic National Convention. A College of Charleston graduate, he serves on the Board of Charlotte Choir School and advocates for arts education.

Lee Barbour is a musician from Charleston, SC. As a guitarist, he has performed/recorded with several international artists, including guitar legend Joe Beck (Miles Davis), Fred Wesley (James Brown), Earl Klugh, Chris Bullock and Justin Stanton (Snarky Puppy), Cody Wright (Joe Bonamassa, Peter Erskine), John Blackwell (Prince, D’Angelo) Quentin Baxter (Ranky Tanky, Rene Marie) Jeff Sipe, Kebbi Williams (Tedeschi Trucks Band), Elise Testone (American Idol), Ellis Hall, and Cary Ann Hearst (Shovels and Rope). He has been reviewed in Jazz Times and had appearances in Spin Magazine and the New York Times.

As a composer, he has written music for trailers, documentaries, animation, commercials and feature film. Lee taught guitar at The New York City Guitar School and The College of Charleston and continues to teach privately. He performs regularly with several different projects and tours with Jazz is Phish. He currently lives in paradise, Charleston, SC.

After battling mental health struggles during much of his adolescence and early adult years, Luke Shirley found the light in his own darkness through loved ones, personal mentors, and the community he found through recreation. In order to provide a light for those going through similar struggles, Luke founded Quest in 2022, a Charleston-based mental health nonprofit that works to strengthen the mental fitness of students and young adults at The College of Charleston. Their student-led organization, Quest on Campus, empowers students to be the leaders of a peer-support model that believes in a community care approach to mental health–those closest to the problem often have the tools to unlock each other’s answers. Their term mental fitness opens a healthy dialogue around mental health with the belief that our minds are an integral rather than a separate part of our overall health. Their important interventions include peer-to-peer workshops, physical activities, and awareness events to foster connections within the greater community, such as their flagship music event, Sound of Mind!

To learn more about their community, visit www.questinrecovery.org/ .

Luke earned his BA in religious studies at The College of Charleston. He still resides in his hometown, Charleston, SC, where he loves to surf, do yoga, and have deep conversations with just about anybody he can find–most of the time at Huriyali! Learn more about their Quest here: www.instagram.com/p/Cx3dlZlx7hQ/

Marvin and Jada Ross are brothers dedicated to preserving their family’s farming legacy while pushing the boundaries of sustainable agriculture and farm-to-table dining. They grew up on the land that is now Peculiar Pig Farm, a farm originally owned by their grandfather, where they learned the value of hard work, respect for the land, and the importance of high-quality, ethically raised livestock.

In 2009, Marvin founded Peculiar Pig Farm with his wife, Nikki Ross, carrying on their grandfather’s farming traditions while incorporating modern, sustainable practices. Their commitment to responsible animal husbandry and high-quality products quickly earned the farm recognition, supplying meat to over 40 restaurants across the Southeast.

Jada, who earned his Bachelor of Science from CSU, serves as Lead Farmer at Peculiar Pig Farm. He plays a vital role in daily farm operations and also contributes to the family’s growing catering business, Peculiar Pig Eats.

In 2022, Marvin and Nikki expanded their farm-to-table mission by launching Peculiar Pig Eats, a catering company known for its locally sourced, chef-inspired menus. Sourcing ingredients from their own farm, local farmers, and artisan producers, the business is a true reflection of their commitment to quality and sustainability. Marvin, who holds a Bachelor’s in Business from CSU, oversees operations and ensures that their farm and catering ventures remain deeply rooted in their values of community and heritage.

Together, Marvin and Jada continue to honor their family’s farming traditions while embracing innovation, ensuring that Peculiar Pig Farm and Peculiar Pig Eats remain pillars of sustainable food and Southern culinary excellence.

Nakeisha Daniel is a dynamic and versatile artist whose work as a director, actor, choreographer, and intimacy choreographer has been showcased on national and international stages, as well as on screen. A proud native of Atlanta, Georgia, Nakeisha discovered her passion for theater at an early age, leading her to pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Musical Theater, a Master of Fine Arts in Acting from Penn State University, and further studies in London and Canada. Nakeisha was honored to serve as the inaugural Guest Artist in Residence at The Citadel: The Military College of South Carolina and is a 2018 Eugene O’Neill Theater Center Cabaret and Performance Fellow. She is also a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA). A dedicated advocate for arts education, Nakeisha’s mission is to transform student learning and empower educators through arts integration. She has collaborated with esteemed organizations such as The Alliance Theatre, Charleston Gaillard Center, The Citadel, College of Charleston, East Tennessee State University, The Kennedy Center, and Engaging Creative Minds. Currently, Nakeisha serves as Assistant Professor of African American Theatre and Performance at the College of Charleston. She also contributes as the Region 4 Coordinator for the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival (KCACTF) ASPIRE Arts Leadership Program, continuing her commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists and leaders.

As a kid, I got hooked on Edward Gorey’s morbid outlook and macabre style and learned to appreciate the ghoulish side of the everyday and find simplicity in lines and color. Yet I couldn’t entirely rely on the same ghastly wit and straightforward form that defined Gorey’s work.

Crediting my parents for helping my creative side flourish as well as their huge collection of coffee table books, they introduced me to the art world, especially the works of Diane Arbus and Saul Leiter.

I studied how these photographers composed a shot to reveal beauty in the mundane and the dignity of outsiders. I was especially inspired by the Arbus quote, “A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you, the less you know.” From that, I found I loved the challenge of making in-between moments picturesque.

In 2023, I was selected for the Under the Radar series, which celebrated the top 10 undiscovered artists in the lowcountry, sponsored by Charleston Magazine and Charleston Arts Festival. My art has also been featured or is slated to appear in several publications: Allegory Ridge || Streelit || Trace Fossils Review || Light, Space & Time Online Art Gallery || Defunkt Magazine || Tint Journal || The Closed Eye Open || The Nelligan Review || Anodyne Magazine || Passengers Journal || Vineyard Literary || Red Ogre Review || Liminal Spaces Magazine || Beaver Magazine || Fauxmoir Literary Magazine || Quarter Press || High Shelf Press.

This past year, I signed with MagnetReps, a Southern California-based creative agency that represents illustrators from across the globe.

Tonya Nicole, born (Tonya Nicole Smalls), is a national recording artist, singer, actress, educator, devoted wife, and proud mother of two beautiful daughters. A native of Holly Hill, SC, now
thriving in Charleston, she embodies resilience, love, and authenticity. With a Bachelor’s degree in Theatre Arts from the College of Charleston and as a core ensemble member of the esteemed PURE Theatre, Tonya commands attention and respect with her captivating performances.

Music has been her lifelong passion, rooted in her early days singing at her father’s church at the age of four. Despite her petite stature, Tonya possesses a commanding voice and energy that defy expectations. Her soulful melodies often explore themes of love, a reflection of her heart’s
devotion to family and meaningful connections. Her 2022 EP #1996KindaLove was a heartfelt dedication to her loving 20-year marriage, released March of 2022 featuring songs like You Got Me, a smooth blend of R&B, jazz, and hip-hop.

A cancer survivor and health advocate, Tonya’s journey is a testament to strength and triumph, earning her Charleston City Paper’s R&B Artist of the Year award. After debuting with singles LIMBO and the summer classic hit, Cotton Candy in 2021, she is now working on her anticipated jazz album TRIBE, dedicated to the community that has poured into her journey.

Beyond the spotlight, Tonya is passionate about arts education, inspiring young creators as a theater instructor with the non-profit Engaging Creative Minds and PURE Theatre’s Education
Department. Whether on stage, in the studio, or in the classroom, her mission remains the same: to make people feel — love, joy, and connection — through every story she tells and every note she sings.