Administrative and Artistic Staff
Maestro Nick Palmer
Music Director and Conductor
Maestro Nick Palmer is in his 10th season as Music Director of the North Charleston Pops! and is celebrated for his dynamic leadership and powerful, emotionally resonant performances. He has conducted major orchestras across the U.S., including the Detroit, Nashville, and Santa Barbara Symphonies, and internationally with ensembles in Italy, Mexico, and the Czech Republic. Palmer has recorded award-winning albums with the London Philharmonic at Abbey Road Studios and is a recipient of the Helen M. Thompson Award from the League of American Orchestras.
A favorite Pops conductor, he has appeared with legendary artists such as Smokey Robinson, Mary Wilson, and Sir George Shearing. In addition to his work with the North Charleston Pops!, he serves as conductor for the Evenings Under the Stars Festival in Massachusetts and maintains a strong presence in opera and ballet. He holds degrees from Harvard, the New England Conservatory, and the University of Iowa, with additional studies at Juilliard.
Elijah Langille
Assistant Conductor
Elijah Langille serves as the Assistant/Cover Conductor of the North Charleston POPS! in South Carolina, where he contributes to the orchestra's artistic excellence and community engagement. He is also the conductor of the Tutti Music Collective, an organization dedicated to supporting music-making that reflects the communities it serves, with particular focus on underrepresented groups in classical music.
Additionally, Elijah works as the Assistant/Cover Conductor of the Evenings Under the Stars Orchestra in Hingham, Massachusetts, providing engaging and innovative programming for summertime audiences.
A committed educator, Elijah currently serves as Program Director and Principal Conductor of the South Shore Conservatory Youth Orchestras and the Performing Arts Director for Barnstable Public Schools. His educational philosophy is informed by his graduate research at Boston University, where he studied the consequences of power and oppression within orchestras and identified proactive ways to create inclusive musical spaces for learners of all abilities, backgrounds, and cultures.
Elijah regularly enhances his conducting expertise through
international study, traveling to Germany and the Czech Republic to work with notable conductors. He has conducted the Moravian Philharmonic in 2019 and 2020 and the Hradec Králové Philharmonic Orchestra in 2023.
As a vocalist, Elijah has performed with the prestigious Tanglewood Festival Choir at renowned venues including Boston's Symphony Hall, Carnegie Hall, and the Koussevitzky Music Shed under the direction of prominent conductors such as Andris Nelsons and Keith Lockhart. He is a graduate of Gordon College and Boston University, and is frequently invited as a guest conductor throughout New England.
Gerome Stewart, Concertmaster of the North Charleston POPS!, has been playing the violin for over 26 years and has performed with orchestras throughout Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Indiana, South Carolina, and Florida. Mr. Stewart holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Violin Performance from Columbus State University and a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance from the University of Louisville. In the summer of 2017, he was appointed Dean of Mens’ Studies at the prestigious Brevard Music Center.
Concertmaster
Gerome Stewart
Tacy Edwards
Founding Executive Director
Tacy Edwards is a co-founder of the North Charleston POPS! and served as its Executive Director for its first ten years. She has brought decades of experience in the arts field to the purpose of creating and nurturing this vibrant orchestra to become the heart of the North Charleston arts experience. Tacy is Principal Flute with the POPS!, holds the position of Second Flute in the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra and has been the Piccoloist with the CSO from 1992 to the present.
Samantha Clark has dedicated over a decade to enriching students’ lives through music education. As Director of the NC Pops Kids program, she has played a key role in shaping its mission and growth over the past eight years. With thirteen years of experience teaching in North Charleston schools, Samantha currently leads the Malcom C. Hursey Bulldog Orchestra and performs with the North Charleston Pops Orchestra.
Before moving to South Carolina, Samantha worked with Cincinnati's Whiz Kids music outreach program, bringing after-school music classes to underserved schools without formal arts education. Her commitment to providing equitable access to music continues to drive her work today, especially for students in the North Charleston community.
Samantha holds a Bachelor’s degree in Viola Performance from Converse College and a Master’s degree in Viola Performance from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
Director of POPS! Kids
Samantha Clark
Stephanie Barrow
Director of Marketing
Stephanie Barrow is thrilled to serve as the Director of Marketing for the North Charleston Pops! With a deep passion for the arts and music, Stephanie brings a diverse background spanning PR, digital marketing, and strategic communications. She began her career in Hollywood as a junior publicist for Academy Award-winning actors. In 2010, she moved to Nashville, where she helped launch digital marketing campaigns for top artists like Lady Antebellum, Sara Evans, and Brad Paisley—overseeing website redesigns, online marketing, merchandise strategy, and fan club programs.
For the past five years, Stephanie has built a successful consulting business focused on helping organizations and artists maximize their digital marketing strategies and adapt to the rapidly changing media landscape. She partners closely with clients to craft impactful messaging, enhance brand presence, and drive meaningful engagement across platforms.
Stephanie has also served as Past President of the Charleston American Marketing Association and co-hosts The Charleston Marketing Podcast. In 2023, she was honored as Charleston Marketer of the Year at the Spark! Awards.
Zandrina Dunning
Director of Development & Outreach
Zandrina Dunning is the newly appointed Director of Development & Outreach for the North Charleston POPS!, bringing her passion for music, community engagement, and strategic growth to the orchestra’s leadership team. A seasoned performer and producer, Zandrina was first introduced to the North Charleston POPS! in 2013, when she performed as a background vocalist for George Benson in his tribute to Nat King Cole - a moment that sparked her deep connection to the orchestra’s mission.
In addition to her new role, Zandrina serves as the Executive Artistic Director of The ZD Experience, where she curates and produces live concerts, interviews, and special events that highlight culture, artistry, and storytelling. With a rich background in live entertainment, business development, and nonprofit collaboration, she has built a reputation for creating meaningful partnerships and experiences that resonate with diverse audiences across the Lowcountry and beyond.
In her role with the North Charleston POPS!, Zandrina is focused on expanding community presence, building donor and corporate relationships, and developing partnerships that support the orchestra’s artistic vision and educational initiatives. Her unique blend of business acumen, creative leadership, and commitment to the arts makes her a dynamic addition to the North Charleston POPS! team as they usher in an exciting new chapter.
Kevin Patton
Coordinater, Jazz in the Park
Kevin Patton is a composer, saxophonist, and entrepreneur from Charleston, South Carolina. Over the past decade, he has performed in various concert halls and churches across the country. He graduated from College of Charleston in 2014 with a degree in Music Performance. Kevin studied with Robert Lewis and many other great professors, who helped shape him into an in demand composer and saxophonist. Over the years, Kevin has performed in many festivals such as Piccolo Spoleto, Savannah Black Heritage Festival, The Atlanta Heritage Music Festival (where he received the Maestro Award), and The Colour of Music Festival. He was a regular member of The Charleston Jazz Orchestra from 2019 - 2021. In collaboration with the orchestra, Kevin has performed with countless jazz greats such as Melissa Aldana, Delfeayo Marsalis, Ernie Watts, and many more. Currently he teaches at Allegro Charter School of Music, performs for World Overcomers Ministries, com-poses film scores, and produces an online concert series titled “Music in Charleston”. In addition to performing regularly, Kevin released an album titled “Full Authority” in 2015. He also released a single titled “It All Works Out” in 2023. Both of these recordings dive into his two main musical influences: Gospel and Jazz. He likes to merge the two genres into a melting pot of new sounds that the world has never heard before. His goal for the future is to continue to improve, while following the plan that God has for his life. You can follow Kevin on Instagram at @kevinpattonmusic for upcoming content and event dates.
Cameron Harpstein
Music Librarian
Cameron Harpstein, Music Librarian of the North Charleston POPS!, is a clarinetist who hopes to expand appreciation for classical music as a performer, teaching artist, and repair technician. Cameron is currently 3rd & Bass Clarinetist with The Fredericksburg Symphony and 2nd & E-flat Clarinetist with the Summerville Orchestra. He also performs regularly with the Long Bay Symphony, Western Piedmont Symphony, Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, and Florence Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with The Beach Boys and the Charleston Concert Band, where he recently appeared as soloist on John Williams' Victor's Tale at SCMEA.
In addition to his performing schedule, Cameron maintains a private studio of over 20 clarinet students spanning all ages and abilities, and is a sectional clinician at schools across the lowcountry, including Hanahan High School and Charleston County School of the Arts. Cameron studied clarinet repair with renowned technician Mark Jacobi, cultivating a strong appreciation for instrument care and maintenance that he strives to share with his students.
Cameron completed a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance degree at Carnegie Mellon University and a Bachelor of Music Performance from Temple University, and studied clarinet with Michael Rusinek, Sam Caviezel, and Wayne Titerence. He studied bass clarinet with Paul Demers, and attended the Philadelphia International Music Festival, where he studied with Boris Allakhverdyan and Ricardo Morales.
Aside from his musical commitments, Cameron was Mission Operations Manager and an operator of the Iris Lunar Rover aboard Peregrine Mission One, and enjoys spending time with his wife Amanda and their two cats Theo and Jasper.
Julie Mathias
Personnel Director
Julie Mathias has been a dedicated member of the North Charleston POPS! Orchestra since its inception. With a lifelong passion for music and education, Julie is honored to now also serve as Personnel Director. Julie holds dual Bachelor's degrees in Clarinet Performance and Music Education, as well as a Master's Degree in Woodwind Performance. Over the course of her 32-year career as a music educator, she inspired students from Pre-K through 8th grade, fostering a love of music and helping young performers develop their skills and confidence.
In addition to her work with the North Charleston POPS!, Julie is an active freelance musician in the Charleston area, performing in a variety of ensembles and musical settings. She is thrilled to collaborate with such a talented and passionate group of musicians and colleagues, and looks forward to continuing to share the joy of live performance with audiences in North Charleston and across the Lowcountry.