Major: French Horn Performance
Minors: Computer Programming, Web Technologies
Graduation year: 2020
Hometown: Greencastle, IN
What was one of your favorite USC Thornton experiences?
Participating in Thornton’s weeklong study abroad program in Norway, and studying Norwegian Folk Music at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo.
What was your favorite USC GE class?
The Science of Sport.
What is your favorite thing about Los Angeles?
Though USC’s campus is already impressively equipped for the needs of a college student, Los Angeles provides to a greater degree everything you can find at USC or could need more of. The city not only has one of the most developed music scenes in the country, offering extremely valuable networking opportunities, but also provides many leisurely ways to take advantage of spare time. In either case, traveling the area is made convenient by an abundance of public transportation, and the opportunities to enjoy time off campus are frequent.
What is something you wish you knew when you were applying to college?
It’s okay to get to college not knowing everything. Having a solid resume is important for applying to a competitive school, but once you get to college, there are a lot of students with an impressive list of experiences from high school. Ultimately, the factor that your colleagues and instructors will find most valuable, especially in music school, is an openness and a motivation to learn. If you allow your desire to learn new things to guide you in your choices and your experiences, you will be much more prepared to build your career following graduation.
Where is your favorite place on campus?
Alumni Park.
What was your favorite thing about being a student at the Thornton School?
I love being in a setting with the resources, opportunities, and connections of a large research university, while having a smaller, more family-like community at the school of music. The nature of this environment has allowed me to immerse myself in my studies when I need to, but also to be able to explore various interests outside of my major, and to maintain a balance between my formal studies and my social time.
Why did you choose the Thornton School?
I knew in the early stages of the application process that Thornton would be a good fit, as I was looking for a college where I could find a balance between a conservatory-like lifestyle and a more typical university-like education. The greatest influence on my decision, however, came when I visited the campus. I was very impressed by the kindness and warmth of the faculty that I met, most especially my horn instructor, but also of the admissions officers who I encountered. Unlike nearly every other school that I had visited, I felt that I was in a place not only where I was welcome, but also where I was truly wanted.