University of Southern California

USC Thornton School of Music

Music in the City of Angels

For updates on the Fall 2021 semester at USC Thornton, click here.

Popular Music students perform on stage with drums & guitar.

On the horizon: bright futures.

Successful musicians of the future need to do so much more than play music. In addition to being virtuoso performers with distinct artistic voices, they need to function as digital-savvy technicians and entrepreneurs. We equip artists with the portfolio of skills they need to thrive.

woodwind musicians play on a city street

Always innovating, always collaborating.

USC Thornton students collaborate constantly across musical genres within the school, and with their peers in USC’s world-class cinematic arts, dance, and theatre schools. We encourage study abroad, as musicians’ multi-faceted careers increasingly are global. This international focus builds a multicultural sensibility and widens students’ professional networks.

Opportunities abound.

No one career looks like another, and we train students for success in multiple career paths. These include stages, studios, higher education, K-12 classrooms, and arts leadership positions. Our location in Los Angeles, the creative capital of the world, provides a wealth of nearby opportunities.

Explore our programs.

Our three exceptional divisions offer cross-genre experiences, exposing students to diverse styles and techniques that will prepare them for a well-rounded career at the highest level.

Classical Performance & Composition
Contemporary Music
Research & Scholarly Studies

Classical Performance & Composition

Contemporary Music

Research and Scholarly Studies

USC Thornton Students:
Favorite Things About Los Angeles

Spotlights

Photo of Danielle Dupre outdoors

Quenton Blache playing cello with visual effect of light behind him

The Process: Quenton Blache

Third-year Composition and Cello Performance double-major Quenton Blache virtually collaborated with his classmates to produce "Lit," a video art piece whose visuals enrich this original composition.

USC Thornton student Michele Lu performs at 2021 New Student Convocation Ceremony on University Park Campus.

Welcomed By Your Peers

First-year student Michele Lu helps open the school year with a performance at the USC New Student Convocation.

News

September 20, 2021

West Edge Opera commissions Nicolas Lell Benavides to write “Dolores,” an opera about labor organizer and activist Dolores Huerta

September 16, 2021

Angela Meade headlines Wexford Festival Opera 2021 season

September 13, 2021

Two Screen Scoring alums take home 2021 Creative Arts Emmy Awards

September 12, 2021

Two alums celebrate one year on the road with win from San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Award for streaming documentary series

Learn about Thornton’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.