HOLY CITY IN THE BIG APPLE
Hello, New York! Charleston is headed your way for a three-day cultural crossover event celebrating a historic Carnegie Hall debut. From Monday, February 24 to Wednesday, February 26, the Holy City will bring its legendary charm to the Big Apple to experience an unforgettable blend of culture, music, and culinary delights. Curated by the Charleston Symphony, College of Charleston, Post and Courier, and Charleston Literary Festival, Holy City in the Big Apple will amplify the magic surrounding this unprecedented moment showcasing Charleston’s cultural charisma in the heart of New York City.
THE CONCERT
A CHARLESTON CELEBRATION
Wednesday, February 26 | 8pm
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall
Celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Charleston with a powerful musical collaboration featuring the Charleston Symphony, College of Charleston Orchestra, and Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra. This program will showcase the Holy City’s vibrant artistry, highlighting works by Charleston composers, including Edward Hart’s A Charleston Concerto featuring the acclaimed Harlem Quartet. Be part of history as Charleston makes its Carnegie debut, paying tribute to the city’s exceptional musical legacy and connections to New York through the works of Gershwin and Dvořák.
College of Charleston Orchestra (Yuriy Bekker, conductor)
Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra (Ryo Hasegawa, conductor)
Charleston Symphony (Yuriy Bekker, conductor)
Harlem Quartet
Ilmar Gavilán and Melissa White, Violins
Jaime Amador, Viola
Felix Umansky, Cello
CHARLESTON SYMPHONY YOUTH ORCHESTRA
Thomas Cabaniss Charleston Mix (World Premiere)
Edmund Thornton Jenkins Charlestonia
Jean Sibelius Finlandia
COLLEGE OF CHARLESTON ORCHESTRA
Yiorgos Vassilandonakis Corsaro (World Premiere)
Trevor Weston Subwaves
Antonín Dvořák Symphony No. 9 in E minor (Finale: Allegro con fuoco)
—INTERMISSION—
CHARLESTON SYMPHONY
Edward Hart A Charleston Concerto
- Discovery
- Tragedy and Reconciliation
- Tomorrow
George Gershwin An American in Paris
MEET THE ENSEMBLES
The Charleston Symphony (CSO) is celebrated as one of the largest full-time performing arts organizations in South Carolina. Founded in 1936, the artistic vision of the CSO is to perform and present the highest quality music, and to engage and enrich people of all ages, race, or economic status by exploring, experiencing, and creating classical music. Serving more than 50,000 adults and children annually, the CSO employs 24 full-time salaried musicians and supplements the core with a robust roster of the highest caliber professional musicians from around the country.
The College of Charleston (CofC) Orchestra is one of the institution’s most successful collaborations with the greater Charleston community. Founded in 1986, the orchestra is committed to cultivating an inclusive and welcoming environment, with students from all fields of study invited to join the ensemble along with faculty, community members and professional musicians alike. The orchestra is housed in the College of Charleston’s Department of Music in the School of the Arts. Known as “the artistic heartbeat of Charleston,” the College’s School of the Arts provides opportunities for students to study with artist-scholars in a culturally rich city and participate in unique professional experiences.
The Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra (CSYO) stands as one of South Carolina’s top orchestral programs for advanced middle and high school musicians (ages 13-18). CSYO offers a comprehensive symphonic experience for skilled students who remain actively engaged in weekly rehearsals, sectionals with CSO musicians, community events, and five full orchestral performances. This season, the CSYO looks forward to performing on the Masterworks stage alongside the musicians of the Charleston Symphony led by world-renown conductor, JoAnn Falletta.
SPECIAL EXPERIENCES
The Charleston Symphony invites you to join the Carnegie Circle to support an extraordinary opportunity to showcase of Charleston’s cultural richness on a global platform. “A Charleston Celebration” will herald a new era for the Charleston Symphony and our talented young musicians, and as a special part of this transformational journey, Carnegie Circle members will enjoy exclusive access to this defining moment in New York City’s most iconic and storied locales.
A $5,000 contribution grants two guests special access to an exceptional collection of prestigious experiences including:
- Premier box seats to “A Charleston Celebration” on Wednesday, February 26 at Carnegie Hall in the Blavatnik Family First Tier in Stern Auditorium.
- Post-concert champagne toast in the Rohatyn Room at Carnegie Hall.
- Special Carnegie Circle dinner experience at the private New York Athletic Club ahead of “A Charleston Celebration” on Wednesday, February 26.
- Complimentary invitation to the “Eve of Carnegie” reception at the private University Club the evening of Tuesday, February 25.
- An exclusive Carnegie Circle experience to witness the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange with a cocktail reception the afternoon of Tuesday, February 25.
- Carnegie Circle listing in special edition Carnegie Hall playbill for “A Charleston Celebration.”
*Formal invitations to follow with event details subject to change. Please note, up to $4,000 may be tax deductible. Carnegie Circle directly supports the Charleston Symphony.
Secure your place in Charleston Symphony history – space is limited! To join the Carnegie Circle or request more information, please contact Director of Institutional Advancement, Simms Oliphant by emailing soliphant@charlestonsymphony.org.
Eve of Carnegie Celebration Presented By Charleston Symphony & College of Charleston
Time & Location: University Club | 1 West 54th Street, New York City | 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Get ready for an unforgettable evening in the heart of NYC! On February 25, 2025, the Charleston Symphony and the College of Charleston cordially invite you to the iconic University Club for an exclusive Eve of Carnegie soirée celebrating a historic debut at Carnegie Hall.
Mix and mingle with musicians and friends while raising a glass to this momentous occasion. Enjoy special chamber music, cocktails, and delectable bites in a legendary New York setting and join in the excitement before the big night! Don’t miss your chance to toast with the CSO & CofC in a premier New York City institution as Charleston makes its indelible mark on one of the world’s greatest stages.
*Please note that guests must adhere to the private University Club’s dress code with sport coats for gentlemen and smart dress for ladies required.
Hosted by the Post and Courier
An Evening with Chef Mike Toscano: Curated Conversations with the Post and Courier’s Parker Milner at Da Toscano in Greenwich Village
Time & Location: da Toscano | 24 Minetta Ln, New York, NY 10012 | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Start your week of festivities with an unforgettable dining experience. For one night only, The Post and Courier is taking over Da Toscano in New York City for a special dinner led by chef and owner Michael Toscano and hosted by Post and Courier Food Editor, Parker Milner. Alongside his wife Caitlin, Toscano operates Le Farfalle, Da Toscano Porchetta Shop and Da Toscano Fugazzi in Charleston. This private event will bring Lowcountry ingredients to the Big Apple, as the Toscanos curate an Italian dining experience that draws inspiration from Charleston and New York City.
WITH GRATITUDE
The Charleston Symphony’s Carnegie Hall debut is presented by Beemok Hospitality Collection (BHC)
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Yuriy Bekker, who is at the centerpiece of each orchestra and forged a unique collaboration
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College of Charleston and its generous donors, including staunch suppporters Frank and Peggy Oldham
The CSYO’s Carnegie Hall debut is generously supported by the Speedwell Foundation and Arts, Etc.
