How the College of Charleston Orchestra Got to Carnegie Hall
The College of Charleston Orchestra is preparing for its Feb. 26 performance at Carnegie Hall, made possible by Frank and Peggy Oldham.
Above: Frank and Peggy Oldham, whose vision and support helped the CofC Orchestra get to Carnegie Hall. (Photo by Kip Bulwinkle ’04 – Karson Photography)
Ya-da-da-yamp-boom-boom.
Yuriy Bekker, conductor of the College of Charleston Orchestra and violin instructor, guides the 70-person ensemble as they rehearse in the Cato Center for their performance at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 26, 2025.
“Strings, use more bow and play with more sound – I want to see the rosin dust flying!” Bekker calls out. “We need more drama in the brass.”
Bekker aims to have the orchestra share the story of Charleston and the College.
“Can the first note have more of an impulse?”
The CofC Orchestra will play Antonín Dvořák’s New World Symphony Finale, which premiered in Carnegie Hall in 1893; Professor of Music Yiorgos Vassilandonakis’ Corsaro, which will have its New York premiere; and former CofC music professor Trevor Weston’s Subwaves.
“This is an opportunity of a lifetime for our students,” says Bekker. “It gives us a chance to put our orchestra on a international stage and raise awareness about the cultural jewels in our community.”
Among those jewels are the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and the Charleston Symphony Youth Orchestra, which will also be performing at Carnegie Hall and sharing in the cultural crossover of Charleston to New York.
This massive undertaking would not be possible without the support and collaboration of Frank and Peggy Oldham: They are the crown in which the cultural jewels are set.
The Oldhams, who claim to not be musically inclined, understand the value of music to children’s development. When they discovered their children’s kindergarten didn’t have a music program, they took action and established one that continues to thrive two decades later.
For their daughter Emily Oldham ’23, a post-baccalaureate artist resident in performance, the music program in kindergarten sparked a passion for violin that continues to this day. Upon joining the College in 2019, Emily found guidance and mentorship from Bekker and the music faculty, inspiring her parents to support the program.
Eager to contribute to the College’s orchestra program, the Oldhams approached Bekker about how they could help. Bekker suggested bringing in acclaimed violinists to play with the orchestra and offer master classes. Through the Oldhams’ support and with rousing success, acclaimed violinists Augustine Hadelich (2022 and 2024) and Sarah Chang (2023) came to the College.
The Oldhams wanted to do more.
“I wanted to supercharge the program,” says Frank. “I asked Yuriy about performing at the Kennedy Center and then Carnegie Hall, something the College orchestra had never done.”
Bekker thought, Why not? He applied to the Capital Orchestra Festival with the touring company, Music Celebration International. After review, MCI invited the ensemble to play at the Kennedy Center.
That’s when the real work began. Under Bekker’s direction, the 45-student orchestra undertook an intense rehearsal regimen to prepare for their debut at the Kennedy Center on Feb. 20, 2023.
At the Kennedy Center, the Oldhams could see the culmination of not only their support, but the work of Bekker and the students. The performance, to a nearly full house, received two standing ovations.
“Watching the students and how much they enjoyed playing at the Kennedy Center gave us the spark to keep going,” says Peggy. “The students’ performance benefited not just the students, but other performers and educators.”
Now set to perform at Carnegie Hall, the ensemble has grown to 70 performers.
Bekker has witnessed this growth firsthand. When he joined the College in 2011 there were 15 students in the ensemble.
“Creative mentors like the Oldhams have changed the course of our orchestra,” says Bekker, who fondly recalls playing at Carnegie Hall in the New York Youth Symphony when he was in high school. “Thanks to them, we keep building the program, improving the quality of our orchestra and building comradery amongst our students. We do all of this through life-changing experiences and creating memories for our students that they will cherish forever.”
Adds Bekker, “The Oldhams inspire me. They provide mentorship from a business entrepreneur perspective and show me how to make things grow and be better. I am very fortunate to have friends like them.”
“Yuriy is the driving force; we’re the tug,” says Frank. “He is the kindest person and has time for everyone, regardless of how good they are. He is God’s gift to this college.”
The dynamic team aren’t finished increasing the quality and national distinction of the College’s orchestra.
“We have a plan and a vision for a new level of excellence for the orchestra,” says Frank. “We want to ensure students gain experience performing at renowned venues and have access to highly skilled performers. We aim for students’ passion for music to grow and for the reputation of the orchestra to amplify.”
With Bekker and the Oldhams leading the way, the College of Charleston Orchestra is primed to become world-renowned.
For information about how to attend the Carnegie Hall concert, visit the College of Charleston School of the Arts’ website: https://charleston.edu/music/concerts/cofc-at-carnegie-hall.php.
