The Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra is trading school auditoriums for a historic concert hall, announcing plans for five performances during the 2026-2027 season at Winthrop University's Byrnes Auditorium. The 65-member orchestra's new partnership with the university also includes rehearsal access and semester masterclasses for music students, giving young musicians a front-row seat to professional performance life.
The season kicks off Sept. 26, 2026, with Variations on America, pairing Charles Ives' titular work with Leonard Bernstein's Overture to West Side Story and Herencia (Heritage), a string piece by Spanish-American composer Andrea Casarrubios, according to the Fort Mill Sun. The concert also features Charlotte Symphony principal horn player Byron Johns as a special guest, per the outlet's report. Music Director and Conductor Christopher James Lees, who has served as Resident Conductor of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra since 2018, leads the Rock Hill ensemble as well, giving him a foot in both North and South Carolina's classical music scenes.
Byrnes Auditorium itself carries decades of history. Built in 1939 with federal Works Progress Administration funds arranged by then-U.S. Senator James F. Byrnes, the hall closed in 2018 for roof repairs before a roof fire and subsequent insurance litigation delayed its return for years, according to Winthrop University. The Fort Mill Sun reports the venue reopened in spring 2026, and the renovation trimmed seating from 3,500 to 3,000 while adding an elevator, expanded restrooms, and modern stage rigging.
A Historic Organ and a Preservation Award
The auditorium also houses the 1955 David Bancroft Johnson Memorial Organ, a four-manual Aeolian-Skinner pipe organ appraised at $2.4 million and designed and signed by G. Donald Harrison, per the same university account. Legendary organist Virgil Fox performed at the instrument's dedication in 1955. Winthrop received a 2025 Stewardship Award from the South Carolina Historic Preservation Office for the restoration, carried out with Gilbane Building and DP3 Architects, according to DP3 Architects.
Before landing this upgraded stage, the orchestra performed in local school facilities including Sullivan Middle School Auditorium and South Pointe High School Auditorium, per Winthrop's account of the venue change. Founded in 2017 by local musicians and supporters, the Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and South Carolina's newest professional symphony orchestra, according to Visit York County.
Students Get Hands-On Access
Under the new partnership, Rock Hill Symphony plans to collaborate with Winthrop's Department of Music throughout its performances, the Fort Mill Sun reports. Lees will hold a masterclass each semester for the music department, and music department students can attend rehearsals to learn performance firsthand. Lorrie Crochet, chair of Winthrop's Department of Music, is involved in the collaboration, according to the outlet.
Lees said students may try to play an instrument after exposure to it, and that the experience will impact students on a fundamental level, per the Fort Mill Sun's report. The masterclass and rehearsal access builds on the orchestra's existing educational footprint. Rock Hill Symphony launched its Symphony in the Schools initiative in 2018, sending string quartets and small ensembles to perform for York County elementary students, according to a post from the Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra.
Five Concerts, One Free Family Show
After the September opener, America's Birthday Party arrives Oct. 25, 2026, at 4 p.m., described by the Fort Mill Sun as a free, family-oriented concert featuring colonial melodies evolved into new American music, with patriotic readings during intermissions provided by Sebastian van Delden. Magic of Christmas follows Dec. 13, 2026, at 4 p.m., blending carols, commercial songs, and audience sing-alongs.
Charleston & Beethoven takes the stage Jan. 30, 2027, at 7:30 p.m., celebrating the 100th anniversary of Beethoven's death and featuring Charleston-based composer Edward Hart alongside violinist Yuriy Bekker performing a violin concerto honoring South Carolina's natural beauty, per the outlet. The season closes May 2, 2027, at 4 p.m., with Pop Songs Through the Ages, weaving together melodies of timeless songs into a musical journey. Single tickets start at $30, with information available at rhsymphony.org/tickets, the Fort Mill Sun reports.
Beyond the five main-stage shows at Byrnes Auditorium, the orchestra's Season IX schedule also includes a casual Bach & Brews performance at Slow Play Brewing on Nov. 17, 2026, with $25 tickets that include a $5 bar credit, according to the Rock Hill Symphony Orchestra's event listing.
