On Sunday, Feb. 14, a local cancer survivor will present a concert to demonstrate the healing power of music and benefit the 2010 Orangeburg County Relay for Life.

Healing Music II, set for 4 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, will feature Sylvia Trimmier, director of music at First Presbyterian Church; soprano and 2008 Orangeburg Idol winner Eden Graves; and cellist and former INine band member Bryan Gibson.

Trimmier, who coordinated the program for the second year in a row, said she hopes that spirits will be uplifted while the concert raises money for a good cause. She appreciates the gift of life after having survived the breast cancer with which she was diagnosed in August 2007 and now spends most of her time giving back to the community that she said has given so much to her.

"I think most cancer survivors feel a need to give back in some way, and this is the best way that I know how to give back," Trimmier said. "A lot of people are saying, 'Why are you calling it healing music?' As I was getting over the cancer and the treatments and getting my strength back, practicing music became a very healing thing for me. It can be a healing agent not just physically, but mentally, psychologically and emotionally. The American Cancer Society is, of course, in the business of healing, so it has a double meaning."

The concert will open with Trimmer performing organ works: "Little Fugue" in G Minor by J.S. Bach and "Carillon de Westminster" by Vierne. She will also perform "Intermezzo in a Major," Op. 118, No. 2 by Brahms on piano along with arrangements of favorite hymns by contemporary composers.

Accompanied by Gibson, Graves will then perform songs made popular by singers Amy Grant and Mandy Moore. Gibson will also perform two movements from Bach's "Solo Suite" in D Minor.

"I thought it would be good to involve a couple of young people and show off their talent," Trimmier said. "Bryan grew up here in Orangeburg and lives in Atlanta. He played guitar and cello with INine and is an excellent musician. Eden has a beautiful soprano voice and is going to be singing 'Breath of Heaven,' a song made popular by Amy Grant, and 'Only Hope,' which is from the movie 'A Walk to Remember,' based on the book by Nicholas Sparks."

She said last year's concert was a tremendous success. The concert raised $4,500 for last year's Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society's signature fund-raising event in the fight against cancer. This year's 14th annual Relay for Life event will be held in April in Orangeburg.

"I never dreamed that we would have such a huge response. Last year, we filled the church and had well over 300 people there. It was just a really great day, so I decided to go ahead and do another concert this year and change it up with having different people and music involved," Trimmier said. "We do invite cancer survivors and their families. We're just celebrating being survivors, and we're celebrating the power of music."

Admission is free, and a love offering will be received at the end of the concert, with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. A reception will be held in the Presbyterian Centre following the concert. First Presbyterian Church is at 650 Summers Ave. in Orangeburg.

T&D Staff Writer Dionne Gleaton can be reached by e-mail at dgleaton@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5534. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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