The South Carolina Philharmonic is ending its 60th Anniversary Season on a high note—welcoming home Columbia’s own Andy Akiho for a special evening of music at the Koger Center for the Arts on Friday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m.
Akiho, a seven-time Grammy-nominated composer and percussionist, will take the stage in a program titled “Fantastique” that blends his modern works with a classical masterpiece. The concert will include the national rolling premiere of Akiho’s brand-new cello concerto Nisei, performed by acclaimed cellist Jeffrey Zeigler. Akiho himself will also perform his Fantasy for Steel Pans and Orchestra, giving audience members a chance to witness his virtuosity firsthand.
To cap off the evening, the Philharmonic will present Berlioz’s iconic Symphonie Fantastique.
Tickets range from $25 to $74 and are available at scphilharmonic.com or by calling the Koger Center Box Office at 803-251-2222 (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Students can score half-price rush tickets 30 minutes before the concert for in-person purchases in select sections.
A Columbia native and proud alumnus of the USC School of Music, Akiho began his musical journey as a member of the SC Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. He graduated in 2001 with a degree in Percussion Performance and has since become an innovative voice in contemporary classical music.
Joining him is cellist Jeffrey Zeigler, a former member of the world-renowned Kronos Quartet. Zeigler’s diverse career has earned him major accolades, including the Avery Fisher Prize and the President’s Merit Award from the Recording Academy.
