USC’s School of Music to celebrate its 100th birthday with special concert
COLUMBIA, SC (WOLO) — The University of South Carolina’s School of Music is turning 100 years old, and they’re hoping you will join in the celebration.
To honor its 100th birthday and look back on a century of enriching student life on campus, the school of music will host a concert called “Sing Thy High Praise: 100 Years of Music at Carolina” on September 13th.
The Centennial Celebration will take place at the Koger Center for the Arts just next door.
“Music was first apart of the academic classroom experience starting 100 years ago, so this 2024 / 2025 season kicks off with a centennial concert celebration where we are experiencing all that the school of music has to offer,” says Director for the Koger Center, Nate Terracio.
He says a pre-show of smaller musical groups like the Palmetto Pans Steel Drum Band will be playing both outside and inside the lobby at 6:30 p.m., followed by major ensembles at 7:30 p.m.
Including the Concert Choir, the Left Bank Big Band, Wind Ensemble , Symphony Orchestra, Opera performances, and the entire Carolina Band.
“When something really powerful happens on stage and you’re sharing space with other people, you all start to breathe in rhythm, you feel like your heart beats together, the energy of other people being excited, rubs off on you. So you can watch your favorite band perform live on televisions, and that is nothing like watching your favorite band perform live in concert,” he says.
Terracio believes music’s power comes not only in bringing us joy, but in transporting us to a certain moment in time.
“When you hear a song that has emotional sentimental meaning to you personally, when that song comes on, you may be transported back to when you were a kid in the car with your parents, or when you were on a first date, or when you were going out with friends and had an exciting evening, and so I think it really triggers something inside of us,” he says.
Tickets to the event are free for USC students, $8 for non-USC students, $30 for adults, and $25 for Veterans and faculty and staff of USC.
“And hopefully you’ll find a new favorite genre of music or a new ensemble you’d like to follow, and come back to the Koger Center or any other places on campus where they perform and see them perform over and over,” Terracio says.
To grab your seats, head to the Koger Center’s website here.
