Donald Portnoy retires after the USC Symphony Orchestra’s 2016-2017 season
The USC Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming season celebrates Maestro Donald Portnoy’s 31 years leading Carolina’s premier orchestra. His music leadership has drawn out the very best in thousands of young musicians. The Ira McKissick Koger Professor of Fine Arts retires as director of the USC Symphony Orchestra and Orchestral Studies after the 2016-2017 academic year.
Portnoy has received countless accolades throughout his years conducting the university’s orchestra – one of the top university orchestras in the region. He will continue to teach conducting and violin and direct the Conductors Institute of South Carolina at the University of South Carolina.
All concerts take place at the Koger Center for the Arts (1051 Greene St., Columbia,
SC) at 7:30 p.m.
A pre-concert Prelude Talk with Maestro Portnoy takes place at 6:45 p.m. prior to
each performance.
Tickets Now on Sale
Season subscriptions: Save with a season subscription (7 concerts) and enjoy the best seats in the house:
$150
Discounts: $110 seniors, USC faculty and staff; $45 students.
Single concert tickets: $30 general public; Discounts: $25 seniors, USC faculty and staff; $8 students.
Call 803-251-2222 or Koger Box Office, corner of Greene and Park Streets (M-F 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) or online at kogercenterforthearts.com.
The Season at a Glance
The Russian Romantics
Thur., Sept. 13, 2016
Marina Lomazov, piano
Program:
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) – Symphony No. 4 in F minor, op.36
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) – Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, op 18
John Williams Blockbusters!
Tue., Oct. 18, 2016
Clifford Leaman, saxophone
Back by popular demand, the USC Symphony Orchestra performs more Signature Editions
of legendary American composer John Williams.
Hanson and Shostakovich
Tue., Nov. 15, 2016
Sandy Cameron, violin
Program:
Howard Hanson (1896-1981)- Symphony No. 1 in E minor, op. 21 (Nordic)
Dmitri Shostakovich (1906-1975) - Violin Concerto in A minor, op. 77
Maestro Portnoy and Friends
Thur., Jan. 19, 2017
Join guest soloists and friends of Maestro Donald Portnoy as they celebrate the Maestro’s
years of conducting and music making. Artists and repertoire to be announced.
Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody
Tue., Feb. 21, 2017
Joyce Yang, piano
Program:
Aaron Copland (1900-1990) - El Salon Mexico
Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-1791) - Symphony No. 35 in D Major, K. 385 (Haffner)
Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) - Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, op. 43
Dvořák and the Historic Cello of Pablo Casals
Tue., March 21, 2017
Amit Peled, cello
Program:
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904) - Cello Concerto in B minor, op. 104
TBA- USC Concert-Aria Competition winners
Grand Finale: The Spirit of Romanticism
Tue., April 18, 2017
Vadim Gluzman, violin
Program:
Richard Wagner (1813-1883) - Prelude to Act III from Lohengrin
Antonín Dvořák (1841-1904) - Symphony No. 8 in G Major, op. 88
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893) - Violin Concerto in D Major, op. 35