2024-25 Centennial Stories and Events

Click here to explore highlights of our history, educational program, alumni spotlights and more in our anniversary story series.  Join us for a year of special performances and events featuring USC School of Music students, faculty and alumni, including:

Friday, September 20, 2024 / 6:35 p.m.

Left Bank Big Band with Nicole Zuraitis

Savannah Jazz Festival   
Forsyth Park, Savannah, GA
Free and open to the public. 

Saturday, September 21, 2024 / 7 p.m.

USC Faculty Jazz Sextet with Nicole Zuraitis

Forte Jazz Lounge 
477 King St., Charleston, SC

Thursday, September 26, 2024 / 7:30 p.m.

USC Symphony Orchestra: 
The Firebird & The Phoenix

Featuring The Song of the Flaming Phoenix by Fang Man (composition faculty) performed by Wu Wei, sheng.
Koger Center for the Arts
$30/$25/$8

Sunday, September 29 / 3 p.m.

Freeman Sundays @3

Featuring performances by voice and string faculty, alumni, and students, plus a premiere composition by alumna Rachel Whelan. 
USC School of Music Recital Hall
$15/$10/$5

October 2–4, 2024

Trouble in America: The Rise of Asian American Madama Butterfly

Presented by Kunio Hara, USC Music History.
Puccini 24, Second Session
Venice, Italy

Friday, October 4, 2024 / 7:30 p.m.

Southern Exposure New Music Series: BlackBox Ensemble

Featuring USC DMA cellist Jordan Bartow. Blackbox will also be joined by faculty Ashley Emerson, soprano; Ari Streisfeld, violin; and 
USC students.
USC School of Music Recital Hall
Free event.

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Experimental Music for Percussion

A recital by Greg Stuart, USC Music History.
Oberlin Conservatory of Music

Friday, October 18, 2024

Black Music is King: Tracing Beyoncé’s Centering of the African World in Global Pop 

Presented by Birgitta Johnson, USC Music History.
Society for Ethnomusicology Annual Meeting

Friday, October 18, 2024

Parade Pedagogy in Mobile, Alabama’s Mardi Gras

Presented by Emily Allen, USC Music History.
Columbia Music Teachers Association

Wednesday, October 23, 2024 / 6 p.m.

Speakeasy: Jazz at USC Fundraiser

Left Bank Big Band Jazz Fundraiser and Concert. Prohibition, 1556 Main St., Columbia. $100/$150/$250
Click here for information and tickets.

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Musicality and ‘Williams Music’: Expanding Music Curriculum for Neurodivergent Musicians

Presented by Alexandria Carrico , USC Music History.
Society for Ethnomusicology Annual Meeting

Sunday, October 27 / 3 p.m.

Freeman Sundays @3

Performances by wind and brass faculty and students, featuring Mozart’s “Gran Partita” 
and a new work by alumnus Clay Mettens.  
USC School of Music Recital Hall
$15/$10/$5

Tuesday, October 29, 2024 / 7:30 p.m.

USC Symphony Orchestra: 
Spotlight on Faculty

Featuring School of Music faculty Michael Harley, bassoon; John Fitz Rogers and 
David Kirkland Garner, composition; and 
Dean Tayloe Harding.
Koger Center for the Arts
$30/$25/$8

Friday, November 8, 2024  / 5 p.m.  

USC Center for Southern African American Music presents Songs 
of Protest  

Penn Center Heritage Days Celebration 
Directed by Matthew White, USC Jazz.
Penn Center
St. Helena Island, SC  

Friday, November 8, 2024

Community Engagement through Songwriting 

Presented by J. Daniel Jenkins, USC Music Theory. 
Society for Music Theory
Jacksonville, FL

November 8, 2024

Musician Leadership: Supporting Students to Develop Sustainable Music Careers through Community Connections and Empowerment

Presented by School of Music faculty 
Claire Bryant, Mary Luehrsen and Dean Tayloe Harding. 
College Music Society National Convention 
Washington, DC Hilton

Thursday, November 14, 2024 / 2 p.m.

USC Percussion Ensemble 
Showcase Concert

Percussive Arts Society International Convention
Indianapolis Convention Center  
Indianapolis, IN    

Friday, November 15, 2024 / 7:30 p.m.

Southern Exposure New Music Series: Exposed Wiring

A tech-heavy concert co-curated by composition faculty Reginald Bain, featuring USC’s Orange Road String Quartet, graduate quintet The Collective, and faculty composer-performers David Garner and Greg Stuart.
USC School of Music Recital Hall
Free event.

Wednesday, November 27, 2024 / 7 p.m.

USC Alumni Dinner Concert

The USC Chamber Players will perform a new work by alumnus Clay Mettens and Mozart’s Gran Partita. 
Doors open at 6 p.m. Dinner is at 7 p.m. 
Call Alexandra Fife in the USC Band office at (803) 777-4278 before November 1 to reserve your free ticket. After November 1, 
visit thegreenroom42.venuetix.com 
to purchase a ticket.
Green Room 42 
YOTEL New York Times Square 
New York, NY  

Thursday, November 28, 2024 / 8:30 a.m.

The Carolina Band Performs in New York

Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
New York, NY

Thursday, December 5, 2024 / 7:30 p.m.

USC Symphony Orchestra: 
An Evening of Alumni

Featuring alumni Nové Deypalan, guest conductor; Isabel Ong, violin and composer 
Clay Mettens.
Koger Center for the Arts
$30/$25/$8

Friday, December 6, 2024 / 7:30 p.m.

Garland Holiday Concert

Concert Choir and University Chorus
Shandon United Methodist Church
3407 Devine St., Columbia
Free event.

Monday, January 13, 2025 / 7:30 p.m.

Musical Theatre: Rocky Mountain High

USC School of Music Recital Hall
Free event.

January 22-25, 2025

The NAMM Show

A beyond-the-classroom experience for Music Industry Studies students, faculty and alumni. Centennial events at NAMM TBA.
National Association of Music Merchandisers National Convention 
Anaheim, CA Convention Center  

Friday, January 31, 2025  / 7:30 p.m.

Southern Exposure New Music: earspace

earspace featuring USC alumnus Philip Snyder, performs Hans Abrahamsen’s masterpiece “Schnee” (“Snow”). Including an introductory presentation by USC theory professor Daniel Jenkins.
USC School of Music Recital Hall
Free event.

Sunday, February 2, 2025  / 3 p.m.

Freeman Sundays @3

Performances by piano, percussion and guitar music faculty featuring a new work by alumnus JaRon Brown.  
USC School of Music Recital Hall
$15/$10/$5

Thursday, February 6, 2025 / 7:30 p.m.

USC Symphony Orchestra: 
Rising Stars

Performances by the winners of the 2024-25 Concerto-Aria Competition. 
Koger Center for the Arts
$30/$25/$8

March 25-29, 2025

Concert Choir Northeast US Tour

Featuring a special performance in Washington, D.C. to honor alumni. Washington, D.C. and surrounding area.

Tuesday, March 25: Raleigh, NC

Wednesday, March 26: First Baptist Church; Washington DC

Friday, March 28: River Road Baptist Church; Richmond, VA

March 29-April 2, 2025

Opera at USC: Gianni Schicci

Performances at all USC System Regional Campuses.
 
USC Salkahatchie
Saturday, March 29, 7:30 p.m.
Carolina Theatre; Allendale, SC

USC Union
Sunday, March 30, 7:30 p.m.
The Junction; Union, SC

USC Lancaster
Monday, March 31, 7:30 p.m.
Bundy Auditorium; Lancaster, SC

USC Sumter
Tuesday, April 1, 7:30 p.m.
Carpenter Auditorium; Sumter, SC

All performances are free and open to the public. 

Saturday, March 29, 2025  / 4 p.m.

Southern Exposure New Music Series: Inuksuit

Performed on the lawn of the Horseshoe by the USC Percussion Studio along with alumni and musicians from around the region. 
USC Horseshoe
Free event.

Saturday, April 5, 2025 / 7:30 p.m.

Joffrey Ballet

University of South Carolina presents Joffrey Ballet in performance with Betsy Blackman Dance Company and the USC Symphony Orchestra.
Koger Center for the Arts
Ticketed.

Sunday, April 6, 2025  / 3 p.m.

Freeman Sundays @3

Performance by chamber music and jazz faculty, including a new composition by Grammy- and Pulitzer-nominated alumnus Andy Akiho.
USC School of Music Recital Hall
$15/$10/$5

Tuesday, April 22, 2025 / 7:30 p.m.

Beethoven’s Ninth

USC Symphony Orchestra, Concert Choir and University Chorus with faculty vocalists Tina Milhorn Stallard, Rachel Calloway, Dominic Armstrong and Jacob Will.
Koger Center for the Arts
$30/$25/$8

Friday, April 25, 2025 / 1:10 p.m.

USC School of Music Spring 
Awards Day

Our spring Awards Day ceremony recognizes the many accomplishments of our student, faculty, and staff community during the academic year. Alumni awards will be presented for the first time this year.
USC School of Music Recital Hall
Free event.

Friday, April 25, 2025 / 7:30 p.m.

Ode to Joy

USC Symphony Orchestra, Concert Choir and University Chorus with faculty vocalists Tina Milhorn Stallard, Rachel Calloway, Dominic Armstrong and Jacob Will.
St. John’s United Methodist Church 
Aiken, SC 
Free and open to the public.

Saturday, May 17, 2025 / 6:30 p.m.

Musical Feast

An evening of music and culinary delights presented by Friends of the School of Music. 
Koger Center for the Arts 
$125 per person 

June 6-14, 2025

Southeastern Piano Festival  

A week-long festival of piano concerts and masterclasses.  
USC School of Music Recital Hall and additional venues; prices vary. 

July 2025

Left Bank Big Band at Umbria Jazz Festival

European Tour feature performance.
Perugia, Italy