Columbia

Inspired by the Charleston-area legend of early 19th-century convicts John and Lavinia Fisher, Jeremy Turner's Six-Mile House premieres in Beaufort on Sunday, April 10th, with a second performance in Columbia on April 12th.

Combining traditional requiem texts with a contemporary libretto by Dr. Robert Walker, Will Todd’s “mini opera” for soloists, choir, and chamber orchestra is a dramatic journey through the stages of grief. Dr. Alicia Walker will conduct the premiere performance in Columbia on Saturday, March 26th.

Series artistic director Mike Harley reflects on Southern Exposure’s beginnings, development, and role in Columbia—and shares why he's excited about the Bang on a Can All-Stars performance that will conclude its 20th anniversary season Thursday evening.

A series of mild earthquakes have shaken homes and residents in central South Carolina. The U.S. Geological Survey says three quakes Monday in Kershaw County near Elgin registered magnitudes of 3.3, 2.5 and 2.1. The first earth-shaker rattled window panes and disrupted wildlife but apparently did not cause injuries or major damage. As the earthquake rumbled, with a sound similar to a heavy construction vehicle, it shook homes, caused glass doors and windows to clatter in their frames and prompted dogs to bark. People reported feeling tremors throughout the Columbia area and as far away as Lexington, about 40 miles southwest of the epicenter.

Two-time Grammy-winning violinist James Ehnes joins pianist Andrew Armstrong for the opening concert of the 2021-2022 CMA Chamber Music on Main series

This past February Columbia mayor Steven Benjamin announced his current term would be his final. He shares how leading the state's capitol city has influenced him personally and professionally; critical issues his successor will face and what the next level of civic engagement needs to look like to help solve these issues.

The Music Director of the Columbia-based orchestra shares about his decision to remain on the Koger Center podium and gives a glimpse of this year's six Masterworks Series concerts

South Carolina's highest court will hear two challenges to the state's refusal to let school districts require masks for students and teachers this week. The state Supreme Court has set aside two hours to hear the cases Tuesday. South Carolina lawmakers passed an item in the state budget in June threatening school districts with losing state money if they required masks. The local governments involved in the cases are Columbia and Richland 2 schools. They will likely argue that requiring or banning masks has no place in the state budget, a bill whose purpose is to raise and spend money. South Carolina law requires legislation to have one clear subject.

South Carolina's top prosecutor says state law prohibits the city of Columbia from instituting a school mask mandate intended to cover children who are age-ineligible for the coronavirus vaccine. Attorney General Alan Wilson wrote to Mayor Steve Benjamin that the recently-approved measure is "in conflict with state law and should either be rescinded or amended." Columbia leaders last week ratified an ordinance mandating the use of masks in the city's elementary and middle schools for at least the beginning of the school year. South Carolina is now averaging nearly 3,000 new cases of COVID-19 a day and hospitals in the state are filling up fast.

The mayor of South Carolina's capital city has issued a school mask mandate, which he says would protect vaccine-ineligible children amid the coronavirus's resurgence. Columbia Mayor Steve Benjamin made that proclamation Wednesday. The effort puts the Democrat at odds with Republican Gov. Henry McMaster as well as the GOP-controlled Legislature, which recently barred such policies for all public schools. A new legislative measure prohibits mask mandates in South Carolina's public schools. Benjamin says he feels he has the authority to impose one for students in his city. Benjamin told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he plans to use city, not state, funds to provide masks in the city's elementary and middle schools.