Give the gift of music this holiday season. Tickets for individual concerts and subscriptions for the remainder of the '10-'11 season are available. For more information visit: http://ping.fm/w6V6X

Spring Semester String Auditions

USC Students: Spring semester string auditions will be taking place on Sunday, January 9th. Sign up for a time on the orchestra board in the School of Music basement. Excerpts will be taken from Dvorak's Symphony No. 8. Music can be downloaded here: http://imslp.org/wiki/Symphony_No.8,_Op.88_(Dvořák,_Anton%C3%ADn)

Practice hard!

Janet Hopkins performs w/USC Symphony, Nov. 16, 7:30, Koger Center (don't forget to bring your new, unwrapped toy to support Toys for Tots).

Paula will be selling tickets for Tuesday's concert in the School of Music lobby for $6. Mon: 12:00-1:15 and Tues: 11:00-12:00. Don't miss your chance to get this special price! http://ping.fm/Upq9t

Janet Hopkins joins USC Symphony November 16

Our next concert is coming up fast! We are excited to have mezzo-soprano Janet Hopkins joining us for a performance of Gustav Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer). We will also be performing "Listen Now, My Children" by Samuel Jones and Symphony No. 3 in C minor, op. 78 "Organ" by Saint-Saens featuring Professor William Bates on the organ.




All this will be happening on:

November 16, 2010 at 7:30

at the Koger Center for the Arts

William Bates will also be giving a pre-concert lecture at 6:45 p.m. in the Large Rehearsal Room at the Koger Center.

The USC Symphony is proud to support the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.  If you would like to show your support, please bring a new, unwrapped toy to the concert.  Marines will be present to collect toys that will be given to children during the holiday season.

USC Symphony supports Marine Toys for Tots Foundation at Nov. 16 concert. Bring new unwrapped gift to show your support

David Lowry reviews our 10/19 performance: http://ping.fm/hcfku

Meet Andrew Fierova, USC Symphony Principal Horn

Andrew Fierova is a native of Spartanburg, SC, where he began his horn studies in the Spartanburg District 6 public school system.  He is currently studying at the University of South Carolina with Robert Pruzin.  Other teachers have included Richard Deane and Dr. John Ericson at the Brevard Summer Institute, Eli Epstein at the Boston Conservatory, and Anneka Zuehlke, principal horn of the Greenville Symphony and Spartanburg Philharmonic.  At the USC School of Music, he is the current principal horn in the Symphony Orchestra and the Wind Ensemble, a member of the MTNA award winning Syzygy Wind Quintet, and a member of both the Sinfonia and Carolina Horn Quartets.  In January of 2010, he was selected as a winner of the USC School of Music Concerto/Aria Competition.  Mr. Fierova currently performs with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Symphony Orchestra Augusta, Spartanburg Philharmonic, Beaufort Orchestra, and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival Orchestra.  He has performed with the Converse College Wind Ensemble, Symphony, and Opera Company and the Columbia College Wind Ensemble.  Throughout his college career he has had the privilege to be a private lesson instructor and marching band technician at Sumter High School and has enjoyed teaching the promising students from across the state of South Carolina. Andrew is a member of the Carolina Horn Quartet. Check them out at: www.carolinahornquartet.com. Their helping horns project is designed to raise funds for arts programs in South Carolina. See how you can be invovled: http://www.carolinahornquartet.com/helping_horns.htm.

USC offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in music. Admissions information: http://ping.fm/FbBej

The Marine Toys for Tots will be at our USC Symphony concert on Nov. 16th at the Koger Center in Columbia, SC http://ping.fm/V5QXT

Meet USC bassoonist Bob Evans

Name: Bob Evans

Hometown: Roanoke, VA

Age: 21

What degree or program are you working on? I'm pursuing a music education degree with a performance certificate.

What year are you in? Senior

Who do you study with? Dr. Peter Kolkay

What are you currently working on? I'm currently working on music for my senior recital, most notably the bassoon sonata by Saint-Saëns, a contrabassoon work by Draganski, and the Poulenc sextet for woodwind quintet and piano.

Where and with whom did you study before attending the University of South Carolina? I took a few bassoon lessons in high school, but I didn't really start working on solo literature until I got to USC.

How did you choose USC? I really like working with my professor, and the family atmosphere within the School of Music was unlike anything I saw at other colleges. I've been afforded so many wonderful opportunities in my time here, and I consider myself lucky to be a part of this awesome machine.

Watch Bob Evans talk about Dr. Portnoy:


What is your most memorable performance? There are really so many from which to choose, but if I have to pick just one, it would be a performance with the SC Philharmonic this past February 13th. I was playing contrabassoon for the performance, and we were playing Ravel's Piano Concerto for the Left Hand, which opens with a huge contrabassoon solo. I was so nervous in the first rehearsals because of all the musicians who I admire and respect so much were all around me, that by the time I got onstage I was almost relieved! I really nailed the solo in the performance, and it was such an exciting concert for me.

How did you choose to play the bassoon? I originally wanted to play the euphonium, but I had braces in middle school, so my band director put me on the bassoon. I was so confused by it, that for the first week I was learning to play it backwards: as in, holding it from my left side with my right hand on top! It's a pretty comical image, actually. And if you think that the bassoon looks awkward normally, you don't even know how awkward it can be backwards.

Other fun facts: I really enjoy music history, I'm going to be pursuing a master's degree in arts administration next year, my favorite composer is Jean Sibelius, and I love to cook.

You can see our full 2010-2011 season here: http://ping.fm/s4mqh

Wendy Warner will be joining the USC Symphony on October 19, 2010.

The USC Symphony Orchestra will be celebrating the 200th and 100th anniversaries of  Robert Schumann's and William Schuman's births with a program of their works on October 19, 2010 at 7:30pm at the Koger Center for the Arts. We will be joined by cellist, Wendy Warner. Check out her website.

We will be playing:
American Festival Overture (1939)- William Schuman

Cello Concerto in A minor, op. 129- Robert Schumann
Wendy Warner, cello

Symphony No. 3, op. 97 “Rhenish”- Robert Schumann


You may be asking yourself, "Who in the world is William Schuman?" There is an excellent website to answer your questions: http://www.williamschuman.org/.


Ticket Information:

Adults $25; Senior Citizens, USC Faculty and staff $20; Students $8. Season tickets are available.

Tickets are available at capitoltickets.com, the Carolina Coliseum Box office, or by calling (803) 251-2222. For additional information please contact (803) 777-7500.

The results are in! (Donald Portnoy International Violin Competition)

The Donald Portnoy International Violin Competition was held at the USC School of Music Recital Hall and Koger Center for the Arts on September 24-25. Eleven talented violinist were invited to compete in the semi-final round on September 24. The young violinists competed for one of three prizes. The third place winner would receive a prize of $2,000; second place, $4,000; and first place, $6,000.

The eleven semi-finalists were:

Keun Hwa Kim
Stanicnka Dimitrova
Carlota Amargos
Brandon Buckmaster
Seula Lee
Yifan Zhou
Garam Kim
Luke Hsu
Alicia Choi
Fang Rong Wang
Eric Gratz

This group was then narrowed down to five for the final round which took place on Saturday, September 25. The final five were Brandon Buckmaster, Seula Lee, Yifan Zhou, Luke Hsu, and Eric Gratz.

As with most competitions, a winner had to be chosen. The final line up was as follows:

Honorable Mention: Brandon Buckmaster
Second Runner-Up: Eric Gratz
Runner-Up: Seula Lee
Winner: Luke Hsu

Later that day the three winners performed in a winners recital. It was as, you may have assumed, an awesome performance by all three gifted violinists.

Congratulations to all the winners and participants for there excellent performances!

String Festival Underway! http://ping.fm/7vrwI

Our String Competition is Underway!

Dr. Donald Portnoy and Rachel Barton Pine are pleased to be conducting a String Festival this weekend.  Various Orchestra's from Tennessee, Charleston, Columbia and Irmo are in attendance.  The students have been exposed to wonderful instruction and magnificent music.  Here Rachel Barton Pine kicks off the weekend with an informal discussion of music prior to our first performance of the season.  The students and their respective schools are very excited abou this unique opportunity. Check out what Dutch Fork High School said here.
Today we have hosted some of the finest violinists in the world!  These violinist's have traveled from inside the United States and from far away countries such as China.  The competitors submitted auditions through CD's and the field narrowed to the group of violinist who competed today.  The group has been narrowed to five.  These will participate in a final competion tomorrow and the winner announced tomorrow afternoon!  The Symphony, along with the area high school orchestra's will perform at 3:30pm in the Koger Center for the Arts.  
Click here to hear one of our rehearsals.

Rachel Barton Pine wows audiences! See photo's here: www.facebook.com/USCSymphony

Unbelievable rehearsal last night w Rachel Barton Pine! Tickets f tonight are still available at http://ping.fm/Zy558 Don't miss out!

Everyone is gearing up for our 1st performance tom night & dress rehearsal tonight! Tickets are still available @ http://ping.fm/erwiW

Behind the scenes pictures of rehearsal. http://ping.fm/xyRkF?aid=24486&id=147139065308588 Come hear us Thursday night!

USC Symphony is Rehearsing and Preparing for September 23rd Performance!

The University of South Carolina School of Music is home to many wonderful aspiring musicians!  Practice rooms are filled with chairs, stands, instruments and eager students who are serious about delivering an initial performance that will wow the audience!  The USC Symphony Orchestra in particular is gearing up for it's first performance of the season this coming Thursday, September 23rd at 7:30pm at the Koger Center for the Arts.


Dr. Portnoy is his usual self, encouraging dynamics and close attention to detail as he leads rehearsals and guides the participants through each measure of music.  Students are excited to be there-working hard-but taking a break from studying marketing, engineering and pharmacy.  


A special guest violinist, Rachel Barton Pine, will join the orchestra.  Rachel was a child prodigy at age 7 with unbelievable skil.l She has performed with "Zubin Mehta, Erich Leinsdorf, Placido Domingo and Charles Dutoit to name a few." Rachel enjoys all types of music and enjoys helping all generations enjoy classical music.  Click here to read more about Rachel's Story.


This "Star-Spangled Banner" performance will feature Rachel along with the Symphony Orchestra performing  Scottish Fantasy, op.46 by Bruch.  The Orchestra will also perform Festive Overture, op.96 by Shostakovich, and Enigma Variations, op.36 by Elgar.  Set to be a wonderful night with excellent music, you will not want to miss this opening performance of the 2010-2011 season.


Click here for information on ticket availability and pricing as well as information on a seating chart.  We look forward to seeing you next week and be sure to wear your patriotic red, white or blue!