Local Arts Organization HALO Turns Five

By Robin Gibson

This season, HALO is collaborating with entities at two sites — Battery Gadsden on Sullivan’s Island and St. Johannes Lutheran Church in downtown Charleston — to establish steady performance, rehearsal and audition spaces year-round.

Happy fifth anniversay to The Holy City Arts & Lyric Opera (HALO). What started as just 'a pair of singers, a piano, and a pickup truck,' HALO is now entering its fifth season. The arts organization has evolved into a flourishing nonprofit dedicated to uniting communities through innovative and inclusive artistic endeavors.

Over the last four years, HALO has produced four major productions in unexpected places such as a baseball stadium and an artillery battery. They've also held intimate concerts at renowned Charleston spots like the Dock Street Theatre and the Charleston Library Society, and have delivered hundreds of mobile concerts throughout the Lowcountry, reaching an audience of over 25,000. By merging visiting and local talents, HALO has offered a stage for emerging singers to launch their professional careers alongside Tony and Grammy Award-winning artists, and has supported seasoned professionals in advancing their careers.

HALO's events are more than entertainment; they stimulate thought, foster connections through simple acts that impact the lives of strangers, friends, and neighbors, and integrate the community.

This season, HALO is collaborating with entities at two sites — Battery Gadsden on Sullivan’s Island and St. Johannes Lutheran Church in downtown Charleston — to establish steady performance, rehearsal, and audition spaces year-round.

Leah Edwards, the General Director of HALO, states, "Being re-invited to a company is the ultimate accolade for a performer. For an organization, being embraced by two venues for collaboration is a profound and humbling honor. We look forward to growing together to better serve our artists and audiences."

HALO's events are more than entertainment; they stimulate thought, foster connections through simple acts that impact the lives of strangers, friends, and neighbors, and integrate the community. HALO's goal is to enhance Charleston's allure by showcasing the enchantment of the arts and establishing a new paradigm where all can engage, experience, and embrace life. For a catalog of previous performances and to buy tickets for upcoming events, visitholycityarts.org. Sign up for their newsletter and stay up to date with HALO happenings and to find out how you can be involved. HALO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.