Celebrating USC Alumni, Students and Faculty
The Southern Exposure New Music Series is your key to an exciting line-up of composers, performers and improvisers dedicated to adventurous music-making. In honor of the USC School of Music’s 100th Year Celebration, the 2024-2025 season features alumni, current students and music faculty.
2024-2025 Season
Friday, October 4, 2024
BlackBox Ensemble
The BlackBox Ensemble is a collective of young contemporary music performers based in New York City dedicated to exploring the experimental boundaries of the music of our time through projects that are innovative, impactful, and resonant with our contemporary moment.
Friday, November 15, 2024
Exposed Wiring: Cosmos
Join us for a tech-heavy concert co-curated by USC composer Reginald Bain, featuring a world premiere by Bain for SATB chorus, projections, and electronics and a performance by USC’s Orange Road of George Crumb’s iconic amplified string quartet Black Angels.
Friday, January 31, 2025
earspace
earspace featuring USC alum Philip Snyder is a contemporary ensemble dedicated to creating invigorating multi-sensory music performances worth believing in. The ensemble presents Hans Abrahamsen’s extraordinary masterpiece Schnee, with an introductory presentation led by USC theory professor Daniel Jenkins and a wintery recital hall design.
Saturday, March 22, 2025
John Luther Adams’s Inuksuit
Described by the New York Times as “the ultimate environmental piece” and hailed by Alex Ross as one of the most rapturous experiences of my listening life,” Inuksuit will be performed on the lawn of the University of South Carolina’s Horseshoe. Directed by Doug Perkins, Inuksuit will be performed by the USC Percussion Studio with alumni and musicians from around the region.
All Southern Exposure concerts are FREE.
Support Southern Exposure New Music Series
Patrons may reserve seats and support the Southeast’s most adventurous music series! A gift of $150 secures a seat for the entire 2023-24 season. To purchase online, click here or contact Brad Martin at brad.martin@sc.edu, 803-777-0704.
About the Series
Founded in 2001 by USC associate professor of composition and composer John Fitz Rogers, the nonprofit series has grown steadily and attracts standing-room-only crowds from throughout South Carolina and neighboring states.
The series has achieved a national reputation for the quality and adventurous spirit of its four yearly concerts, unparalleled in the southeast for their mix of artistic quality, audience education and cutting-edge programming.
Southern Exposure New Music Series is pleased to announce the Duncan Endowment for Student Composers. The fund supports the annual recording of new works written by USC graduate and undergraduate composition students. Each year, four to six students are selected to write pieces expressly for the series. Guest ensembles will record the selected composers’ new pieces while at USC, with the composers in attendance to help produce.
Southern Exposure was awarded a 2007 Chamber Music America / ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming in its 2005-2006 season.
These free concerts are often standing room only and early arrival is suggested for seating. For a donation of $150 or more, you can reserve one seat for the entire Southern Exposure season. Donate online.
If you prefer to pay by phone, contact Brad Martin at
803-777-0704. You can also mail a check payable to "Southern Exposure New Music Series"
to:
Southern Exposure New Music Series School of Music, University of South Carolina,
Columbia, SC 29208
Patrons who reserve seats for the season will receive seating priority in concerts with restricted access, and receive relevant information on a concert-by-concert basis when special reservations are required.
Groups and artists of international repute who have made their Columbia and South Carolina premiere performances in a Southern Exposure concert include:
- So Percussion
- Brooklyn Rider
- Karel Dohnal
- Argento Chamber Ensemble
- Tony Arnold and Jacob Greenberg
- International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)
- Alarm Will Sound
- Imani Winds
- Los Angeles Piano Quartet
- Music from Copland House
- Calder and JACK string quartets
- Matt Haimovitz, internationally renowned cellist
- Kartik Seshadri, sitar virtuoso
- Lisa Moore, esteemed New York-based pianist
- Gamelan Galak Tika
For more information reach out to Michael Harley, Southern Exposure New Music Series artistic director.
Upcoming Events
Southern Exposure: BlackBox Ensemble
Friday, Oct. 4, 2024
Location: School of Music 206 Recital Hall
Cost: FREE
Southern Exposure presents “Exposed Wiring: Cosmos”
Friday, Nov. 15, 2024
Location: School of Music 206 Recital Hall
Cost: FREE
Southern Exposure: earspace
Friday, Jan. 31, 2025
Location: School of Music 206 Recital Hall
Cost: FREE
Southern Exposure: Inuksuit
Saturday, Mar. 22, 2025
Location: See Description for Event Location.
Cost: Free.