RELIVE THE MAGIC OF CARNEGIE HALL!
Video by Grace Beahm Alford, The Post & Courier
POST AND COURIER
Charleston in NYC: The symphony’s debut at Carnegie Hall was a monumental moment
Kalyn Oyer & Grace Beahm | March 2, 2025
“While the talent of the symphony is overflowing, its camaraderie solidifies it — that special Charleston hospitality you can’t quite re-create. It’s why so many in the symphony have stuck around through the hard times, past the pandemic, into a future that’s been solidified with a $16 million endowment and Bekker’s unmatchable passion for the artform and the community he represents.
“A Charleston Celebration” continues past the name of this particular program at Carnegie Hall. It’s a mindset the symphony proudly propels forward — a cheerful crescendo, a flourishing forte, a hopeful harmony ringing out and resonating.”
SOUTH CAROLINA PUBLIC RADIO
Charleston celebrates its music on a world stage
Bradley Fuller | March 21, 2025
Such delight was apparent in standing ovations for each orchestra and enthusiastic applause at the end of the 2-hour, 45-minute concert.
That applause resonated with pre-concert remarks by Charleston Symphony CEO Michael Smith.
“It might be our first trip to Carnegie Hall,” he promised those present, “but it will not be our last.”
BLOGCRITICS
Concert Review: Charleston Symphony, Its Youth Orchestra, and the College of Charleston Orchestra at Carnegie Hall
Jon Sobel | February 27, 2025
“The professionals of the Charleston Symphony and the Harlem Quartet brilliantly performed a stunning contemporary concerto by Edward Hart. All the orchestra’s colors along with a full measure of George Gershwin’s wit and drama showed in force in Mr. Bekker’s bright take on An American in Paris. This familiar, hummable music proved an excellent companion piece to the Edward Hart concerto, and a happy way to finish a most satisfying evening at Carnegie Hall.
May the musicians of Charleston make many happy returns to New York.”
NEW YORK CLASSICAL REVIEW
Charleston orchestras dance the night away at Carnegie Hall
David Wright | February 27, 2025
“The port city of Charleston, South Carolina has so many resonances in American history and culture, it’s hard to know where to start. So how about starting with the resonance of a famous concert hall?
Three stagefuls of musicians from that city occupied Carnegie Hall Wednesday night, in what was billed as “A Celebration of Charleston.” Familiar masterworks alternated with a selection of orchestral Charlestoniana that provided the evening’s most arresting moments..”
ABC NEWS 4
Young musicians join seasoned pros for Charleston’s big night at iconic Carnegie Hall
Sonya Stevens | February 25, 2025
ABC News 4 (WCIV-TV): Sonya Stevens sat in for a rehearsal for one of the three Charleston orchestras before they left to play on one of the biggest performance venues in the world.
“It’s an iconic building and concert hall and just for us to be able to go there it was just really exciting,” said Sadie Nichols, violist with The Charleston Symphony. “So we’ve been looking forward to it all year.”
THE CONCERT
A CHARLESTON CELEBRATION
Wednesday, February 26 | 8pm
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall
The Charleston Symphony’s Carnegie Hall debut was generously presented by:
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.
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.
