The Dream of America
Capital Concert #5
A double-bill of Ravel, a world premiere from Shaosheng Li and a staged symphony with actors!
Guest Artist
GONG SHUANG, soprano
Saturday
March 14, 2026
7:30 PM
Koger Center for the Arts
This epic evening begins the SCP's celebration of America's 250th Anniversary as we present Peter Boyer's Ellis Island: The Dream of America. Actors and orchestra weave the immigrant experience into living tableau, melding music and drama to celebrate hope, struggle, and new beginnings under the baton of Morihiko Nakahara and the direction of Chad Henderson (The Chad Henderson Co.)
The concert features a double-bill of Ravel as the program begins with his sunlit Alborada del gracioso, and later features the composer's highly popular orchestral experiment: Boléro
The centerpiece for the night is the world premiere of Shaosheng Li’s Wind Across a Cloudless Firmament - performed by China's celebrated soprano, Gong Shuang. Join us for The Dream of America—an unforgettable celebration of artistry, premieres, and the timeless pursuit of possibility.
YOUR BRAIN ON ART
Experiencing opera and theatre can improve mental well-being by reducing nervous tension and enhancing emotional resilience, as engaging with live performances has been shown to increase dopamine and oxytocin levels, promoting feelings of joy and social connection (Dunbar, 2012). Additionally, research published in the British Medical Journal found that frequent attendance at cultural events is associated with a lower risk of depression and a longer lifespan (Fancourt & Steptoe, 2019).
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!