Southern Exposure New Music Series

The Southern Exposure New Music Series is devoted to exploring the rich variety of contemporary classical and world music written in the past 30 years and masterworks of the 20th century.

2026-2027 Season

Friday, October 2, 2026

We Were Fridays

Jeff Zeigler, cello; Reggie Gray, dance

We Were Fridays (Jeffrey Zeigler, cello; Reggie "Regg Roc" Gray, dance) explores the music of the Gullah people of the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Told through cello, electronics, and dance, this work explores forbidden love, fractured lines, and complex legacies.

Friday, November 13, 2026

Palmetto Saxophone Quartet

Clifford Leaman, Andrew J. Allen, Sheldon Johnson, Matthew Castner

The Palmetto Saxophone Quartet is comprised of USC sax professor Clifford Leaman and three all-star graduates of USC: Sheldon Johnson (Radford University), Andrew Allen (Georgia College and State University), and Matthew Castner (Boise State University). They will perform an eclectic program of works by eight living composers, including Andy Akiho, Salvatore Sciarrino, Carlos Simon, Julia Wolfe, and the world premiere of a new piece by David Kirkland Garner.

Friday, February 19, 2027

Anzû Quartet

Formed in 2020, the Anzû Quartet is a collaboration of four internationally celebrated performers dedicated to the music of our time: Olivia De Prato (violin), Ashley Bathgate (cello), Ken Thomson (clarinet) and Karl Larson (piano).

Saturday, April 17, 2027

Eighth Blackbird

One of chamber music’s most venerated ensembles returns to the Southern Exposure stage. Among many accolades, the iconic sextet has won four Grammys, the Chamber Music America Visionary Award, and the Concert Artists Guild Competition Grand Prize.

All Southern Exposure concerts are FREE.

Support Southern Exposure New Music Series

Patrons may reserve seats and support the Southeast’s most adventurous music series! A gift of $175 reserves one seat at every Southern Exposure concert this season. A gift of $300 or more reserves two seats and provides additional support for the series. To donate online, click here or contact Brad Martin at brad.martin@sc.edu, 803-777-0704.

About the Series

Founded in 2001 by USC associate professor of composition and composer John Fitz Rogers and now run by Michael Harley, professor of bassoon and a founding member of Alarm Will Sound the nonprofit series has grown steadily and attracts standing-room-only crowds from throughout South Carolina and neighboring states.

The series has achieved a national reputation for the quality and adventurous spirit of its four yearly concerts, unparalleled in the southeast for their mix of artistic quality, audience education and cutting-edge programming.

Southern Exposure New Music Series is pleased to announce the Duncan Endowment for Student Composers. The fund supports the annual recording of new works written by USC graduate and undergraduate composition students. Each year, four to six students are selected to write pieces expressly for the series. Guest ensembles will record the selected composers’ new pieces while at USC, with the composers in attendance to help produce.

Southern Exposure was awarded a 2007 Chamber Music America / ASCAP Award for Adventurous Programming in its 2005-2006 season.

These free concerts are often standing room only and early arrival is suggested for seating. For a donation of $150 or more, you can reserve one seat for the entire Southern Exposure season. Donate online .

If you prefer to pay by phone, contact Brad Martin at
803-777-0704. You can also mail a check payable to "Southern Exposure New Music Series" to:
Southern Exposure New Music Series School of Music, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208

Patrons who reserve seats for the season will receive seating priority in concerts with restricted access, and receive relevant information on a concert-by-concert basis when special reservations are required.

Groups and artists of international repute who have made their Columbia and South Carolina premiere performances in a Southern Exposure concert include:

So Percussion
Brooklyn Rider
Karel Dohnal
Argento Chamber Ensemble
Tony Arnold and Jacob Greenberg
International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE)
Alarm Will Sound
Imani Winds
Los Angeles Piano Quartet
Music from Copland House
Calder and JACK string quartets
Matt Haimovitz, internationally renowned cellist
Kartik Seshadri, sitar virtuoso
Lisa Moore, esteemed New York-based pianist
Gamelan Galak Tika

2025-2026
2024-2025
2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020
2018-2019
2017–2018
2016–2017
2015–2016
2014–2015
2013–2014
2012–2013

For more information reach out to Michael Harley, Southern Exposure New Music Series artistic director.

View the Calendar

School of Music