Northern Lights
The Andy Armstrong Festival Begins
Nordic music for a southern winter night
Guest Artist
Andy Armstrong, piano
Saturday
January 10, 2026
7:30 PM
Koger Center for the Arts
We're bringing you the biggest January yet in our orchesrta's history with the Andy Armstrong Festival! Northern Lights marks the first of three concert events featuring the celebrated director of the Andy & Friends Chamber Series.
Under the shimmering banner of Northern Lights, prepare for a night of elemental passion and soaring melodies! We begin our journey with Grieg’s Peer Gynt Suite, whose windswept dance will transport you to misty fjords and moonlit mountain passes. Next, spotlight soloist Andy Armstrong as he unleashes the fiery brilliance of Grazyna Bacewicz’s Piano Concerto—its driving rhythms, folk‑inspired bursts, and radiant lyricism showcasing Armstrong’s dazzling technique and deep musical soul. Finally, Sibelius’s Fifth Symphony unfolds like dawn breaking over a frozen landscape: noble horn calls, sweeping string arches, and a triumphant finale that will leave you breathless. Join us for Northern Lights—an electrifying evening of Nordic wonder and virtuosic brilliance all on a southern winter night!
YOUR BRAIN ON ART
Listening to classical music during the winter months may help reduce seasonal anxiety and symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) by lowering cortisol levels and boosting dopamine production, which can improve mood and relaxation (Maratos, Gold, Wang, & Crawford, 2008). Additionally, research from the British Journal of Psychiatry suggests that music therapy, including classical music, can enhance emotional well-being and alleviate depressive symptoms associated with colder, darker seasons (Erkkilä et al., 2011).
Program Overview
Edvard Grieg
Peer Gynt Suite
Grazyna Bacewicz
Piano Concerto
Featuring Andy Armstrong, piano
Jean Sibelius
Symphony No. 5 in Eb Major, op. 82
Ticketing Pro-Tip
TICKETS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH SUBSCRIPTION AT THIS TIME.
All Koger Center tickets incur a $2 “Restoration Fee” per ticket. All tickets sold online or over the phone incur a sliding scale convenience fee (phone fee is lower). You can avoid internet and phone fees by visiting the Box Office in person.
Koger Box Office:
806 Park St, Columbia, SC 29201
(Free parking spots directly in front of Box Office window on Park St.)
Phone: 803-251-2222
Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 PM
Please note, all single tickets for Koger events must be bought through Koger Center. Do not buy tickets from any other vendors because they will not be honored.
Parking
The Koger Center for the Arts is located in downtown Columbia at the corner of Assembly and Greene Streets, 1051 Greene Street. Parking is available at the Discovery Garage behind the building (usually around $10), accessible off Park Street. Additional garages and street parking are located at least one block away, which is a further walk to the theater but may help you avoid the pre-concert rush.
Dining & Hotels
There are excellent restaurants and hotels in the downtown and surrounding areas for every budget.
Restaurants
- 1801 Grille
- Blue Marlin Steaks & Seafood
- Bourbon Columbia
- COA Agaveria y Cochina
- Hall’s Chophouse
- Hunter-Gatherer Brewery & Ale House
- Kaminsky's Dessert Cafe
- M Vista
- Mr. Friendly's New Southern Cafe
- Motor Supply Co. Bistro
- Pearlz Oyster Bar
- Ristorante Divino
- Terra
Columbia Hotels
New to Symphonic Music?
Here are a few pointers on what to expect.
Other Ways to Purchase
There are other ways to purchase single concert tickets through the Koger Center Box Office.
By Phone
- Charge by phone at 803.251.2222.
- Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday – Friday.
- American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa accepted.
- Additional charges applicable.
- Single tickets are not available through the SC Philharmonic office.
In-Person at the Koger Center
- Located at 806 Park St., Columbia SC 29201
- Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday.
- Accept cash, American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa.
- No additional fees for in-person purchases.
Concert Night
- Purchase any remaining tickets at the Koger Center ticket kiosk on concert night starting one hour before each concert.
Morihiko's Pre-Concert Lecture
Live on the 2nd Level of the Koger Lobby at 6:30 PM before the concert. A FREE in-depth look at the program from our conductor!
Need to Renew?
If you would like to renew your season tickets, please email us, or call our office at 803.771.7937. We are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday - Friday.
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