When audiences walked up to the Koger Center for the Arts on Friday, they were greeted by a steel drum ensemble playing on the plaza stage. When they stepped through the large glass doors, a jazz group played gently the lobby. All performances were a part of the School of Music’s kickoff to celebrating 100 years of music at USC.
From the early 1920s to the end of the 1930s, what is now the school of music was known as ‘The Department of Vocal Music’ and held only three music courses. The School of Music didn’t become a stand-alone school until 1994, Dean Tayloe Harding said.
USC’s School of Music has evolved through several different phases or “eras” with each dean, Harding said.
“That’s why (The School of Music) took off,” he said. “Because we had those people who valued it, who made certain investments and did certain things with the board and with the legislature, I might add, to secure a national quality music school.”
The first phase consisted of the time between the creation of the Department of Vocal Music and the Great Depression, which hindered the school’s momentum. During the second phase — what Harding said is the beginning school’s ‘the middle age’ — the marching band became a larger part of athletic events.
In the early 1950s the Department of Vocal Music evolved into the Department of Music. It becoming a vibrant and robust part of the academic department on campus through the 70s under the leadership of Arthur Fraser, who served from the 1950s to the 1970s, Harding said.
Bill Moody was selected as department chair in the 1970s, during which the modern School of Music emerged.
“Bill did an extraordinary amount of lobbying and advocacy and good hiring,” he said. “And he had the benefit of two back to back music provosts in the 80s and into the early 90s, (one of them) a fellow named Frank Borkowski, who's still living.”
In 1993, the department became a standalone school and hired the first female dean of a music school at a public institution, who served until the late 1990’s, Harding said.
After a few more deans who came and went, Harding was hired in 2005.
“Sort of accelerated the modern era of the music school, which I think will probably, will probably mark the end of that, when I retire in a few years,” Harding said. “And then there'll be a new chapter to write.”
During his time as dean, Harding has prioritized three values, he said.
The first is to train musical teachers for the public and private schools — which has been a core value of the school since it’s inception, Harding said. Harding's goal is for all students who wish to study music to have access to a proficient teacher, he said.
The school’s second value was to impart knowledge on students taking classes in the School of Music that goes beyond simple musical instruction, Harding said. He said that those skills were mostly entrepreneurial, enabling students to identify a community’s need for music and then be able to deliver on that need.
”That's what a music leader does,” Harding said. “And I fought very strongly that our music school was well positioned to become a leader in the preparation of music leaders.”
The final value, imposed by Harding in 2015, is to become the nations model public music school, he said. To Harding, that means showing the world and other programs of musical higher education that USC values the role of music in the common good of communities, he said.
“And we do that not just preparing students who are musicians,” Harding said. “But also by using all of the music we do and all the instruction we do every day as a motivator for community action and involvement through music.”
Director of bands Cormac Cannon said that the School of Music plays a role in the lives of many USC students who interact with it in different ways, whether they major in music or takes a class there that enhances their overall experience on campus.
Third-year music education student and clarinet player Ellie Lawhorn has been connected with the School of Music since USC’s assistant director of bands Quintus Wrighten visited Lawhorn’s high school to conduct her band.
“The fact that I never knew all these years later that he would be my director, I mean, it's just incredible,” Lawhorn said.
Now Lawhorn plays with the Carolina Band and the Wind Ensemble.She performed with both groups on Friday, and Lawhorn said she was honored to get the opportunity to play at the Centennial Concert and give back to the school of music because of how much it has impacted her life.
Still, being part of the School of Music is tough, Lawhorn said. She said most music education majors take between 18 and 21 credits per semester in addition to their performances.
“I wouldn’t trade it for the world because I get to spend all this time with the people I love, doing what I love, which is making music, teaching music and being in the music,” Lawhorn said. “
Lawhorn said she hopes to be able to spread her love of music to other people when she graduates from the School of Music.
“Being able to be that gateway to other students in the future is something that just motivates me all the time,” Lawhorn said. “Especially whenever I’m going to school with some of the professors … that had such a huge influence in my life.”
Cannon said that the Sept. 13 was the first time that the School of Music put together a performance that encompassed so many parts of the school. This was to give audiences an opportunity to hear from musical groups that they may not have heard of as often, he said.
“And I mean everybody, everybody involved, really enjoyed the collaboration,” Cannon said. “I think many of us want to do it again, whether we will have the opportunity to do it again anytime soon, that remains to be seen.”
Throughout the year, all of USC’s different musical groups will put on special performances. Cannon said that the first centennial concert was an opportunity for audiences to get a sampling of every facet of the School of Music.
To commemorate the individuals who have written and performed music for the School of Music, many of the upcoming centennial concerts at the Kroger Center will involve faculty and alumni composers, Cannon said.
Other centennial performances to keep a look out for throughout the year are USC Concert Choir’s Northeast Tour in March and Opera at USC’s tour of all USC’s campuses in April, Cannon said.
Members of the Wind Ensemble, along with faculty, are additionally giving a special concert on Nov. 28, the Wednesday evening prior to Thanksgiving — when the USC Marching Band will perform in the Macie’s Day Parade, Cannon said.
The Centennial Celebration will close out in July 2025 when USC’s jazz group — The Left Bank Big Band — will perform in Jazz Festivals at the Vienne in France and at Umbria in Italy, which are two of the most prestigious festivals in Europe, Harding said.
”The fact that a college jazz band has been invited to play is really quite an honor for them,” Harding said. “They're of international quality, and they're going to be recognized at the stigma in Europe, and then to have it be the final thing in the centennial year in July of 2025 is really quite special.”
When Harding looks back at the centennial year, he said he hopes there’s a new level of engagement and enthusiasm among USC’s alumni.
“I really want to be able to feel as though these students ... staff we have here right now help our alumni and our emeritus faculty who are still around by celebrating their contributions to the excellence,” he said. “That's what I'm hoping I will feel. And to be honest … I already feel it, so I know I'm gonna feel it next year too.”
Students and staff can look at the School of Music’s website for more information about all the Centennial events.