December 19, 2020
It’s been a year — but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t plenty to celebrate, recognize and honor at the University of South Carolina in 2020. UofSC rose to each and every challenge this year and raised the bar for the year to come.
December 08, 2020, Page Ivey
Wendy Valerio prepares many of South Carolina’s public school music teachers, so it might be a little confusing to hear the Mungo Undergraduate Teaching Award winner’s philosophy. “I don’t believe in teaching when it comes to music education,” Valerio says.
November 25, 2020, Megan Sexton
Catherine Howland will earn her Bachelor of Music degree with an emphasis in music education summa cum laude in December. The School of Music and Honors College grad will start her career as a choir teacher at a middle school in South Carolina starting in January.
October 27, 2020, Amanda Hernandez
The School of Music’s Southern Exposure New Music Series is devoted to exploring contemporary classical music and masterworks of the 20th century. Assistant professor Claire Bryant shares how an upcoming performance ties into the School of Music’s new initiative, Bridging our Distances.
September 18, 2020, Chris Horn
The Mighty Sound of the Southeast, the University of South Carolina's Marching Band, celebrates its 100th anniversary this fall, and what a century it's been! Find out what the band has in common with Elvis Presley and how you can enjoy a virtual concert on Facebook.
September 15, 2020, Chris Horn
The Mighty Sound of the Southeast — the University of South Carolina's Marching Band — marks its 100th anniversary this fall, and a special tribute is planned on Facebook Sept. 25.
May 07, 2020, Megan Sexton
Thomas Palmer chose UofSC because of the opportunities offered by a large university, along with its top-flight School of Music and impressive Honors College. Playing in the orchestra during the production of Leonard Bernstein’s MASS, he was reminded that he made the right decision
February 18, 2020
With only a few short months until summer, it’s time for parents to find summer activities to enhance the lives and bolster the minds of their children. Fortunately, UofSC offers a wide variety of summer camps for all interests from music to journalism and softball to science.
February 17, 2020, Dan Cook
Southern Exposure and SAVVY Musician — two long-running successful School of Music programs — are teaming up to present a joint program: the SAVVY competition finals, in which several contemporary groups perform and are judged not only on their musical skills but also their creativity in designing an event for the public.
February 10, 2020, Ellen Woodoff
Carolina Distinguished Professor Christopher Berg is a national leader in his field and plays a large part in the School of Music’s commitment to developing 21st-century musicians.
January 08, 2020, Dan Cook
Bruno Alcalde brings an eclectic background in the relatively new field of music cognition to UofSC students.
December 10, 2019, Dan Cook
While many of us were eyeing the end of the semester, University of South Carolina music professor Phillip Bush was eyeing his piano — gearing up for an early December trip to Paris, where he performed with acclaimed American composer Philip Glass.
October 24, 2019, Ellen Woodoff
Carlisle Floyd’s "Susannah" is one of the most beloved American operas. Under the direction of Ellen Douglas Schlaefer, the School of Music presents the opera at Drayton Hall Theatre Nov. 1-3.
September 09, 2019, Josh German
When Sarah Jane Ballentine created a mural for the Music Library, she chose to depict the connection she felt between art and music.
August 29, 2019, Josh German
Jazz studies director Bert Ligon helps his students find their unique voice by exposing them to a variety of musicians and styles.
August 05, 2019, Craig Brandhorst and Megan Sexton
You don’t need a degree from the University of South Carolina to get elected mayor in the Palmetto State, but it certainly doesn’t hurt. This summer, Carolinian magazine traveled the state, from the Lowcountry to the Upstate, from the Midlands to the Pee Dee, interviewing South Carolina alumni who hold the esteemed office.
June 20, 2019, Josh German
For the 18th consecutive year, the University of South Carolina will be represented abroad by Fulbright U.S. student grantees conducting research, studying and serving as English teaching assistants.
June 18, 2019
Andrew Gowan, distinguished emeritus professor, has been named 2019-20 interim dean of the UofSC School of Music, effective July 1.
June 06, 2019, Jeff Stensland
Tayloe Harding, the dean of the University of South Carolina School of Music, has been named the university’s interim provost, effective July 1.
June 06, 2019, Ellen Woodoff
The Southeastern Piano Festival, one of the premier piano experiences for performance and young talent, offers South an opportunity to hear some of the world’s top artists.
May 29, 2019, Megan Sexton
The University of South Carolina String Project is a model of community service and teacher education, which has been duplicated at nearly 40 universities around the country.
April 08, 2019, Mia Grimm
Preparations for a any type of musical performance are often strenuous. But practice for “Armida,” an opera composed by Judith Weir that re-imagines the love story from Torquato Tasso’s 1581 epic poem set in the First Crusade, has been a bit different.
April 05, 2019, Mia Grimm
Stuck on what to do with your class schedule for next semester? We've compiled a list of cool, unconventional classes in every college.
March 29, 2019, Carol J.G. Ward
At the Musical Feast on April 13, guests are invited to stroll through spaces within the Koger Center to experience a variety of musical performances - from jazz to opera - by School of Music students.
March 26, 2019, Megan Sexton
A new composition, "Red Hot Sun Turning Over," by School of Music assistant professor David Garner uses music, sounds and images from the Civil War era and the early 20th century to explore the story of Confederate monuments. It will be premiered Sunday (March 31) at the Koger Center.
February 28, 2019, Allen Wallace
A year ago, University of South Carolina Dance Marathon made history, raising more than a million dollars for the kids at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital (then known as Palmetto Health). Just days after that success, they began working to do it again. That yearlong effort concludes Saturday with the student organization’s annual Main Event.
February 12, 2019, Lee Goble
With only a few short months until summer, it’s time for parents to find summer activities to enhance the lives and bolster the minds of their children. Fortunately, UofSC offers a wide variety of summer camps for all interests from music to journalism and softball to science.
January 23, 2019, Carol J.G. Ward
An international workshop at the University of South Carolina challenged participants to consider the future of music higher education by re-envisioning curriculum for the 21st century
December 14, 2018, Julie Turner
Lee Correctional Institution near Bishopville, S.C., is the state’s largest maximum-security prison and home to some of the most violent offenders. It’s also a place where music can make a difference.
December 03, 2018, Megan Sexton
The university has established several new degree programs that illustrate creative curricula by adding innovation, an entrepreneurial approach or other types of value to traditional degrees.
November 28, 2018, Megan Sexton
Gabriela Lena Frank, a Grammy Award-winning composer who made the Washington Post’s list of the 35 most significant women composers in history, will visit the School of Music next week for a series of events.
November 14, 2018, Dan Cook
Composer Nico Muhly is on campus this week for the world premiere of a new concerto and a residency with the School of Music. Muhly rarely does residencies in the United States, but he’s excited about working directly with music students at USC.
October 12, 2018, Page Ivey
It is one thing to understand the mechanics of music, the theory. It is another thing to actually hear those mechanics at work and know what the theory sounds like. Danny Jenkins has flipped his classroom to get his students better engaged with a subject he calls “the vegetables” of music education — music theory.
October 11, 2018, Annika Dahlgren
What do you get when you combine four guitarists, a bassist and a drummer? You get an ensemble that creates new tunes you can sway to. Sometimes the group doesn’t even know what they are planning to play, they just go with the flow and improvise. On Oct. 14, this unique group will be playing at the Freeman Sundays @ 3 concert series at the School of Music Recital Hall.
August 15, 2018, Ross Stevens
Some professors at the University of South Carolina have waited a long time for a charter school in the Midlands that would provide a free public education to middle and high school students interested in the arts. After years of planning and preparation, that wait is finally over.
July 26, 2018, Ross Stevens
Each summer, middle and high school students from around the world have the opportunity to get a hands-on college experience through multiple summer camps operated by the University of South Carolina.
June 05, 2018, Peggy Binette
In its 16th year, the Southeastern Piano Festival offers South Carolinians the rare opportunity to hear renowned artists perform. It also provides 20 of the nation’s top pre-college pianists the opportunity to take master classes with top pianists and university piano faculty as well as perform and compete for prizes.
May 30, 2018, Chris Horn
The definition of a grand piano is simple — a large piano with the body, strings and soundboard arranged horizontally and supported by three legs. But what makes a piano “grand?” Willson Powell and Karen Brosius can point to the piano they bought 37 years ago — and have now donated to the University of South Carolina's School of Music.
May 25, 2018, John Brunelli
Sarah Louise Faulkner combined her love of music with her studies to become a nurse to study the healing power of music.
May 22, 2018, Chris Horn
If you want to delve deep into the history of Charleston you could take a guided tour of the city. But if your time and money are limited, check out the Charleston Time Machine with Nic Butler.
February 27, 2018, Taylor Evans
Summer is quickly approaching, meaning that children will soon need activities to enrich their lives and expand their minds. Luckily for parents, Carolina has a variety of summer camp options for every interest from singing to softball to science.
January 31, 2018
One of the splendors of music is its power to inspire joy, acceptance and understanding among people of all backgrounds and beliefs. It is widely recognized that Leonard Bernstein’s dramatic "MASS: Theatre Piece for Singers, Players and Dancers" does just that, bringing to life diverse views on spirituality, self-reflection and personal responsibility through the musical means only one of America’s greatest composers could envision.
December 06, 2017, Mary-Kathryn Craft
Premier pianist and composer Courtney Bryan will discuss her music’s overall ties to social justice campaigns and her inspirations across various genres during two public lectures Friday, Dec. 8 at the University of South Carolina.
November 16, 2017, Taylor Evans
Carolina organizations gear up for the holiday season with a variety of themed events.
September 29, 2017, Peggy Binette
Pushing boundaries is intrinsic to music. That’s what audiences can expect in the Freeman Sundays @3 concert series, which merges traditional and contemporary classical music to create a bold, new way to experience world music.
September 25, 2017, Taylor Evans
The USC Symphony Orchestra is gearing up for an exciting season filled with ambitious pieces and award-winning guest artists that include the university’s renowned music faculty. The season opener is Thursday, Sept. 28.
July 21, 2017, Megan Sexton
Clifford Leaman's love of teaching and performing is obvious to Leaman’s students and colleagues, who describe him as a master performer and teacher. This year, the university presented Leaman, who has taught saxophone at Carolina for the past 17 years, with its highest teaching honor: the Michael J. Mungo Distinguished Professor of the Year Award.
June 13, 2017, John Brunelli
The 2017 Southeastern Piano Festival opens June 18 with a Piano Extravaganza concert. The region's only piano-focused arts event runs through June 24 with nightly concerts from world-class pianists and a competition of rising stars.
June 01, 2017, John Brunelli
The School of Music's SAVVY Arts Venture Challenge explores how a variety of business lessons are applicable to all arts disciplines. Musicians, dancers, actors, visual artists and even mimes learn what it takes to create a business.
April 19, 2017, Melinda Waldrop
Want to tune out that annoying co-worker while learning something new? You could try visiting A Flutist’s Book of Days, the YouTube site where flute professor Jennifer Parker-Harley is compiling 365 days of flute music.
April 11, 2017, Melinda Waldrop
Donald Portnoy conducts his last concert as conductor of the USC Symphony Orchestra, which he has led for 31 years.
February 23, 2017, John Brunelli
Five paintings by Edward Hopper are the inspiration for Opera at USC's spring production "Later the Same Evening." The show runs Feb. 24-26 at Drayton Hall.
December 15, 2016, USC Times
A is for alphabet, at least according to USC Times. To help close out 2016, the University of South Carolina’s monthly magazine for faculty and staff devoted its entire December issue to the ABCs of 2016 — with each letter representing a different accomplishment, announcement or notable arrival from the past year.
November 17, 2016, John Brunelli
Over the past 40 years, one constant in Robert Jesselson’s life has been his cello. Because this is the 300th year of its “birth,” Jesselson decided to throw a party.
October 18, 2016, Dan Cook
For the past 11 years, Ari Streisfeld has played violin in the JACK Quartet, performing at Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center and on stages throughout the world. Now, he is on to the next chapter — as assistant professor of violin and violin pedagogy in the University of South Carolina School of Music.
October 13, 2016, John Brunelli
Maestro Donald Portnoy has spent 31 years creating dynamic symphonic concerts at the University of South Carolina. His farewell season includes a night of movie scores from "Jaws," "Harry Potter," "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," and other blockbusters.
September 12, 2016, Dan Cook
Imagine the stakes when you enroll in an experimental music class and it turns out that you’ll not only be listening to challenging sounds, but actually performing such pieces yourself. Not only that, but performing them in New York City just one month into the semester as part of a world premiere.
August 18, 2016, John Brunelli
Two popular music series merge to create the new Freeman Sundays @ 3 concerts featuring School of Music faculty. Proceeds from the concerts will still fund music student scholarships.
July 27, 2016, Dan Cook
When Bryan Gibson first visited the University of South Carolina in 1999 to audition for cello professor Robert Jesselson, it didn’t go well. Seventeen years later, Gibson is touring the world as a cellist and multi-instrumentalist — and Jesselson has fond memories of the student he once saw as unprepared for pursuing a career in music.
May 31, 2016, Dan Cook
Today's musicians graduate into a world where they often need to cobble together their careers piece by piece — and that means they need more than just musical training. What exactly that training should be will be the focus of a major summit at the School of Music this week.
May 12, 2016, Dan Cook
How long has it bothered John Herr that Carolina’s alma mater, “We Hail Thee Carolina,” is paired with a tune also used by other universities? More than half a century. In 2005, he decided to do something about it.
May 12, 2016, Glenn Hare
Julie Hubbert is a film buff, and this summer she's headed to Hollywood. But not to stalk the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio or Jennifer Lawrence. A recipient of a National Endowment of Humanities Summer Stipend and a music historian in the School of Music, Hubbert will busy her days in Tinsel Town combing the documents of legendary filmmakers from the New Hollywood era, also dubbed the American New Wave.
April 24, 2016, Ore Oluwole
Reading Day is known as the day students do last-minute preparation for final exams. But what do faculty do? From end-of-semester meetings to preparing the final exam, this is no day off for professors.
April 01, 2016, Steven Powell
David “Clay” Mettens is already hitting high notes—or, more precisely, writing them as a composer—in his young career in music. Not even three years since finishing his undergraduate degree at the School of Music, he has composed a mini-opera that was part of a sold-out performance at the Kennedy Center.
March 31, 2016, Glenn Hare
Influenced by the likes of opera stars Leontyne Price and Kathleen Battle, USC music student Valencia Callens has high standards. But the master of music in theatre performance is undaunted by the challenge. Callens will showcase what’s she’s learned at Carolina this weekend when performs in “Speed Dating Tonight!” presented by Opera at USC in the School of Music recital hall.
January 14, 2016, Olivia Currey
During Sunday evening’s Martin Luther King Jr. Gospel Festival at the Koger Center, choirs will be singing in honor of the past and for the future. For Carl Wells, director of the USC Gospel Choir, the event offers the chance to understand King’s legacy through music and explore its relevance today.
December 15, 2015, Glenn Hare
As the School of Music’s primary recording engineer for student and faculty performances and recitals, Jeff Francis brings decades of recording experience and a musician’s ear to the job.
December 02, 2015, Glenn Hare
Like many UofSC music students, Jason Wright, a doctoral candidate in choral conducting, adds to the city's music soundscape by offers his talents to many local music organizations and churches in the Midlands.
November 05, 2015, Glenn Hare
Sean Heely transferred to UofSC’s School of Music to continue his violin training under William Terwilliger and to refine his playing of classical composers. He has found that, but also discovered a world of opportunities. “The musical progress I’ve made in classical and my new ventures in bluegrass and Gypsy jazz couldn’t have happened elsewhere,” he says.
September 21, 2015, Glenn Hare
There are no music stands in Rooms 106 at the School of Music. There’s no podium either. What you will find are spaces for brainstorming and planning — whiteboards and corkboards, flip charts and Post-it notes, books on finance and leadership. And just in case there’s a need play out those ideas, the room has a seven-foot Baldwin piano.
August 14, 2015, Glenn Hare
Cormac Cannon, the new director of athletic bands, drills the 375-member USC Marching Band during summer band camp.