91福利社鈥檚 most anticipated cultural event is back! The President鈥檚 Gala is returning for two sparkling nights鈥擜pril 22 and 23. The South Carolina School of the Arts is proud to present this joyous celebration of the 2021-2022 academic year.
The finest musicians, dancers, actors and vocalists at 91福利社 will perform at this year’s President’s Gala.
The President鈥檚 Gala includes everything from rousing orchestral arrangements to dance to pop鈥攕how tunes, too.
The President’s Gala is a gift to the community from AU. Tickets are required and can be obtained through the AU Box Office or . The tickets will go early as the event has a well-deserved reputation as one of the finest and most diverse musical spectacles in Upstate South Carolina each year.
Senior Max Milian, one of the student arrangers and student musical director for AUthenticity, Anderson鈥檚 commercial music ensemble, says that coming back to a live in-person performance gives students the experiences they鈥檝e missed over the past two years.
鈥淚 think it provides both audience members and performers a real chance to actually not take things for granted,鈥� Milian said. 鈥淚鈥檓 very grateful for the opportunity to perform with a symphony orchestra in an auditorium with a thousand people in the audience. Those are things that, during my freshman year, were a big opportunity before the pandemic hit; we鈥檝e missed that, but coming back to it is really exciting.鈥�
McCayla Ratcliffe, a senior majoring in worship leadership who was once an American Idol contestant in Hollywood, California, has been leading worship in chapels and following God鈥檚 call into music ministry. As with other graduating seniors, the 2022 President鈥檚 Gala for her is special.
鈥淓veryone is super excited because we鈥檝e been deprived of being all together and having that community and that social aspect of performance as an event. It鈥檚 definitely missed, so people really appreciate it a lot more, especially as a performer,鈥� said Ratcliffe.
For Spencer Dulin, a musical theatre major and commercial music minor, the reality of Gala returning to its full glory is still sinking in.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be huge鈥� you almost have to stop and believe it鈥檚 a full-fledged production again,鈥� Dulin said 鈥淚t鈥檚 just really exciting because there鈥檚 a lot of good work being showcased and there are a lot of very talented people involved.鈥�
鈥淭he best thing about Gala and honestly this whole department is you get to work with so many people who are outside of your major you didn鈥檛 think you鈥檇 work with. So I鈥檓 excited to do that again and excited that the choir is together again and the orchestra,鈥� said Angelina Chisholm, a senior double majoring in worship leadership and communication. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a bit of nervousness about all of us being there and everything in full swing again.鈥�
Both Gala performances will begin at 8 p.m. in the Henderson Auditorium of the Rainey Fine Arts Center.
Tickets for general admission are $10 and $5 for faculty, staff and students (only available to purchase at the box office).
Tickets are available to reserve in person, , or by phone on March 22, 2022 starting at 9am EST. All ticket requests, whether in person or by phone, will be combined and processed in chronological order.
Please call the Box Office at 864-231-2080 for more information and tickets.