Orangeburg County donates $20,000 to support SC State Concert Choir’s Carnegie Hall debut

ORANGEBURG, S.C. — Orangeburg County Councilwoman Delores Frazier has presented $20,000 on behalf of the county to help send the South Carolina State University Concert Choir to New York for its highly anticipated debut at Carnegie Hall.

The gift will directly support the Concert Choir’s travel to New York City, where in June 2026 the choir will perform Adolphus Hailstork’s sacred cantata, “I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes,” at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall. This marks the first time the SC State Concert Choir will perform on the prestigious stage.

“We are incredibly grateful to Councilwoman Frazier for her generosity and the wisdom she offered members of the SC State Concert Choir as she presented the $20,000 gift for Carnegie,” Choir Director Johnnie Felder said. “The councilwoman’s gift will ensure that the students are able to be fully immersed in this life-changing experience.”

SC State President Alexander Conyers also praised the county’s generosity, noting the importance of community partnerships in student success.

“We appreciate Councilwoman Delores Frazier and the County Council for the generous support of our Concert Choir,” Conyers said. “The $20,000 donation supporting the Concert Choir’s historic performance at Carnegie Hall shows the tremendous confidence the Orangeburg community has in our students.”

The councilwoman’s gift made an immediate impact not only financially but personally, as she shared words of encouragement with choir members during the presentation.

“This is a tremendous opportunity for our students, who work extremely hard to hone their craft,” said Dr. M. Evelyn Fields, dean of SC State’s College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences. “For many, this will be a first-time experience, and they are excited to share their talent and the legacy of SC State with the world.”

Fields encourages others to join the effort by supporting the choir’s fundraising campaign through the university’s Big Bulldog Give initiative at www.thebigbulldoggive.com.

The Concert Choir is part of SC State’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts, housed within the College of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences. The department offers a rich array of music programs that continue to elevate the cultural and artistic presence of the university.

For more information about the SC State Concert Choir and other music programs, visit www.scsu.edu/music.