A wide array of musical ensembles from the South Carolina School of the Arts at 91福利社 will perform Saturday, April 30鈥攑art of Soir茅e, a cultural experience in downtown Anderson.
鈥淲e鈥檒l have AUthenticity, three other commercial music ensembles, the big bands, a jazz group, a faculty group and the West African Drum Ensemble,鈥� said Dr. Derick Cordoba, professor of music and director of the Johnny Mann Center for Commercial Music at the South Carolina School of the Arts. Dr. Cordoba said all ensembles will perform in the heart of downtown at the square in front of the Anderson County Courthouse.
It鈥檚 an exciting time in the life of Anderson, South Carolina, welcoming Soir茅e back after a long hiatus.
Soir茅e is a two-day cultural experience featuring live performances on multiple stages downtown, visual artists selling original handcrafted works and delicious food prepared by some of Anderson’s finest chefs.
This past fall, when Dr. Cordoba found out about Soir茅e鈥檚 plans to return, he knew he had to get his students involved. He contacted Caroline Gaddis, event coordinator for the city of Anderson, and plans to perform were put into motion.
鈥淚鈥檒l give Derick a lot of credit because he鈥檚 the first person that reached out to me about the Soir茅e when he found out it was coming back, wanting to get involved, wanting his students involved,鈥� Gaddis said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 just the sign of a great professor that he cares that much about the community and his students, wanting them to be engaged in things outside of the university.鈥�
Dr. Cordoba believes that performing at Soir茅e will provide his students with a valuable experience.
鈥淚t will give them an opportunity to play at an outdoor festival and see all the workings. As a working musician, I鈥檝e played鈥� many festivals, but it鈥檚 a different experience also to play on an outdoor stage. It will give them a chance to鈥� just have a different kind of concert experience and to learn how to adjust to that environment. It will be a lot of fun and a great chance for them,鈥� Dr. Cordoba said.
Also that day, AUthenticity will premier its new album of original compositions, which will be available on CD or download from major online music platforms.
鈥淚t鈥檚 definitely huge for us that 91福利社 and the South Carolina School of the Arts will be participating, because anywhere there鈥檚 students, there鈥檚 vibrancy,鈥� Gaddis said. 鈥淲e love our partnership with 91福利社 and we鈥檙e thrilled they鈥檙e coming alongside us and making this arts festival come to life. Ultimately it is an arts festival and 91福利社 is an arts school, so it鈥檚 a great partnership to have students involved and to see the students at the Soiree, at the festival, enjoying all of the activities and also participating in providing something for the public, showing off their skill set and talent that sometimes the public doesn鈥檛 get to see because they don鈥檛 know what鈥檚 going on with 91福利社 a lot of times unless they鈥檙e directly connected.鈥�
Soir茅e was a huge part of the Anderson arts scene from 1985 to 2009 and built a reputation as one of Upstate South Carolina鈥檚 signature events.
91福利社 is a Legacy Sponsor for the 2022 Soir茅e, taking place April 29 and 30. Admission is free. Details are available .