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Special to The T&D

Dr. Richard Beckford, director of the South Carolina State University Concert Choir, will present an organ concert at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, at First Presbyterian Church in Orangeburg.

Beckford, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, graduated from the Royal Academy of Music with an honors degree and a double major in piano and organ. He continued his studies with Howard Spillman at Louisiana State University.

Near the end of his doctoral studies at LSU, Beckford was called to serve at the Southern University, Baton Rouge, where he remained until coming to South Carolina State University. Under his leadership, the Southern University Choir won first place in the "Winner of Winners" Competition in the 15th annual Negro Spiritual Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio. The SCSU Concert Choir recently performed with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and at the American Choral Directors Association regional conference.

Beckford is also an active church musician and choral clinician. He has served as organist and choir master at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer in Orangeburg and has performed at premier venues in the United States as well as in Europe, Jamaica and the Bahamas. Beckford served as music director-conductor for a special edition of the British Broadcasting Corporation television program "Songs of Praise" and has been recognized for his achievements in Jamaica, England and the United States.

The Feb. 6 concert is free and open to the public. A nursery will be provided.

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