A trio of music-filled evenings celebrating artistic brilliance and community
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina Philharmonic will present the Andy Armstrong Festival, a three-concert celebration of musical excellence and collaboration featuring acclaimed pianist and chamber music curator Andy Armstrong. Taking place in January 2026, the festival offers audiences an engaging journey from intimate chamber music to expansive orchestral performances.
Tickets range from $22–$71 for Northern Lights (Jan. 10), $31–$80 for Beethoven and Blue Jeans (Jan. 17), and $40 general admission for Prisma Health Presents Andy & Friends (Jan. 12). Tickets are available at scphilharmonic.com.
CAPITAL CONCERT: Northern Lights
Saturday, January 10, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Koger Center for the Arts
The festival opens with Northern Lights, an evocative program of Nordic-inspired works designed to stir the spirit on a winter evening. The concert features music ranging from the sweeping Romantic landscapes of Edvard Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite to the radiant energy of Grażyna Bacewicz’s Piano Concerto, with Andy Armstrong as featured soloist. The evening concludes with Jean Sibelius’s majestic Symphony No. 5 in E-flat Major, a triumphant and awe-inspiring symphonic journey.
Prisma Health Presents Andy & Friends
Monday, January 12, 2026 | 7:00 p.m.
Satterlee Hall at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
This intimate chamber music concert brings audiences closer to the artistry at the heart of the festival. Pianist Andy Armstrong is joined by renowned violinist Stefan Jackiw and cellist Raphaël Bell for an evening featuring masterworks of the piano trio repertoire, including Dmitri Shostakovich’s Piano Trio No. 2 in E Minor, Op. 67 and Antonín Dvořák’s beloved “Dumky” Trio.
CAPITAL CONCERT: Beethoven and Blue Jeans
Saturday, January 17, 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Koger Center for the Arts
The festival concludes with Beethoven and Blue Jeans, a relaxed and immersive orchestral experience that blends world-class music with a casual atmosphere. Featuring Andy Armstrong (piano), violinist Amy Schwartz Moretti, and cellist Edward Arron, the program opens with Robert Schumann’s Overture, Scherzo, and Finale, followed by Johannes Brahms’s lush Double Concerto for Violin and Cello. The evening culminates with Beethoven’s grand Triple Concerto, bringing the festival to a powerful close. Audiences are encouraged to embrace the casual dress code and enjoy classical music in a welcoming environment.
About the South Carolina Philharmonic
The South Carolina Philharmonic is committed to performing live symphonic music and providing dynamic educational opportunities throughout the Midlands. Building on a legacy of passion and excellence, the orchestra plays a vital role in the cultural life of South Carolina’s diverse communities.
For more information, visit scphilharmonic.com or follow the South Carolina Philharmonic on Facebook and Instagram.
