Spotlights Archive - USC Thornton School of Music

Coming Home

Being part of the first production in the School of Dramatic Arts’ new home was a full-circle moment for Thornton’s Oliviana Marie.

A music student sits on the steps outside of Abbey Road Studio in London.

4/23

Ambassador Blog: Study Abroad

Thornton Student Ambassadors Rosie Ding, George Tyler Heffley, and Gabriel Griswold reflect on some of their experiences studying abroad.

Photo of violin player in concert dress on stage.

4/18

Ambassador Blog: Getting Involved at USC

USC Thornton Student Ambassadors Madeline Cheng, Tanner Dodt and Celine Chen discuss the extracurricular opportunities on campus.

4/17

USC Thornton Welcomes New Faculty

Talented professionals take full-time roles in Jazz Studies, Music Industry and Popular Music programs.

A student violinist plays on a concert stage in dress attire.

4/16

Ambassador Blog: Performance Opportunities

USC Thornton Student Ambassadors Sofia Chamberlain, Emily Hsu and Ella Kaale share the performance opportunities they’ve had within the Strings and Composition departments.

Photo of composer Michael Abels in front of a dark green canvas background.

4/9

Michael Abels and Kali Uchis to be Honored at USC Thornton’s 2024 Commencement

The composer and singer-songwriter will deliver separate remarks at Thornton’s ceremony.

Music students smile and gather at a record label for a group photo.

4/2

Ambassador Blog: Internships

USC Thornton Student Ambassadors Jackie Gibson and George Tyler Heffley give advice and share their experiences as music interns.

Photo of Dean Jason King smiling and shaking hands with musician George Clinton on the stage of a popular music venue.

3/21

USC Thornton Hosts PopCon 2024

The acclaimed conference celebrated music writing and popular music studies over three days at USC.

Photo of radio host and performer Suraj Partha.

2/29

A Life in Music

Sharing stories of USC Thornton alumni whose passions evolved into multifaceted careers, creating something that is uniquely their own.

2/20

Pop Conference 2024 Moving to Los Angeles

USC Thornton will host the premier music writing and popular music studies conference.

2/5

A Spectacular Night at the 2024 Grammy Awards

USC Thornton faculty and alumni were celebrated at the 66th annual Grammy Awards.

Black and white photograph of singer Lorraine Francis Doggett.

2/1

Remembering Lorraine Frances Doggett

A distinguished Black mezzo soprano, Lorraine Frances Doggett represented the Civil Rights cause, city of Los Angeles and USC on the world stage, paving a legacy of endurance and passion.

A collage of music students performing on stage.

1/17

Spring 2024 Live Events Preview

USC Thornton offers music fans of every persuasion — from classical and choral to pop and jazz — an abundance of free concerts and other events this spring.

1/11

The Mixtape Series: Shelby Wong

Introducing the Mixtape Series where current students in the Strings and Keyboard departments share what they’re listening to, highlighting how boundaries in music are being blurred everywhere.

Illustration of a treble clef symbol over a cityscape.

12/14

Highlights of the Fall 2023 Semester

Looking back on an incredible Fall 2023 semester at USC Thornton.

12/13

Remembering Alan Smith

USC Thornton faculty remember longtime, beloved faculty member.

Visual collage of an illustration of a guitar with two figures playing and posing with guitars.

12/12

Aspiring Guitarists, Take Note

USC Thornton brings back its pre-college summer program that preps young musicians for success; the Guitar Seminar boasts alumni with multiple degrees and amazing careers.

A music student stands with their instrument outside.

12/7

The Mixtape Series: Nico Valencia

Introducing the Mixtape Series where current students in the Strings department share what they’re listening to, highlighting how boundaries in music are being blurred everywhere.

A trio of popular music songwriters and performers smile together for a posed picture in a modern recording studio.

11/30

Making “A Song for the Ages”

USC Thornton Trojans were called to action to record the Coliseum’s 100th Anniversary anthem.

Photo of Lyndia Johnson wearing a dark grey shirt.

11/29

Office Hours with Lyndia Johnson

In this ongoing series called “Office Hours,” get to know some of the exceptional scholars and artists who make up USC Thornton’s faculty as they answer questions about themselves.

Piano player wearing a red colored suit looking to the right.

11/21

Going Solo

Collaborative pianist Seoyon MacDonald gets an unexpected opportunity to make the world-premiere recording of an unpublished Shostakovich work.

11/10

USC Thornton Faculty and Alumni Celebrated with Grammy Nominations

Alumni and faculty received over 20 nominations for the 66th GRAMMY Awards, announced Friday, Nov. 10.

11/9

From “Das Rheingold” to RapCaviar

LaMarcus Miller (DMA ’20) mixes it up as a singer, music supervisor and newly minted Berklee professor with a love of classical and hip-hop.

Radio host Suraj Partha and composer Frank Ticheli in the radio studio of KUSC.

11/2

Your Tour Guide Through the ‘Halls of Thornton’

USC Thornton alum Suraj Partha hosts new Classical California KUSC radio program spotlighting Thornton concerts and the students, alumni and faculty behind them.

Spotlights