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 and Scholarly Studies
Spotlights
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News
see allShima Oliaee Reflects on Dolly Parton’s Life and Legacy for TIME
Anuj Bhutani receives 2026 Princess Grace Award in Theater
USC Thornton alumni nominated for 2026 Emmy Awards
USC alums among the 4000+ invited to join 2026 Recording Academy New Member Class
Upcoming Events
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Songs in the Key of Life at 50: A Conversation with Stevie Wonder's Collaborators
ADMISSION: Admission is free and open to everyone.
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USC Thornton Symphony: Rimsky-Korsakov, Britten, & Respighi featuring USC President Beong-Soo Kim
Sharon Lavery, Conductor President Beong-Soo Kim, Narrator Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Capriccio espagnol, Op.
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Jazz Forum: The Art of Originality — Stevie Wonder and Beyond with Artist-in-Residence Gerald Clayton
Six-time Grammy Award-nominated pianist, composer, and USC Thornton alumnus Gerald Clayton (’07)—the USC Thornton Jazz Department’s returning Artist-in-Residence—will share his extraordinary talents with students, faculty, and the wider community.
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Kamasi Washington: Beyond Category – A Special Conversation and Q&A
The USC Thornton School of Music's Beyond Category programming continues with acclaimed saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Kamasi Washington, who will take part in a wide-ranging conversation and Q&A with USC Thornton Dean Jason King about music, imagination, community, and the creative possibilities that emerge when artists move beyond the boundaries of category.