OFFICE OF THE DEAN
USC Thornton Music Mentorship Program
The Music Mentorship Program is considered a cornerstone of professional development for all USC Thornton students.
Greg Phillinganes
About
The USC Thornton Music Mentorship Program is an annual initiative designed to connect music majors with leading industry professionals. Mentorship sessions range from intensive, individual conversations to small group meetings.
USC Thornton’s music mentors consist of leading industry professionals like award-winning producer Peter Rotter; the Roots tour manager Tina Farris; renowned choral conductor María Guinand; and celebrated keyboardist and arranger Greg Phillinganes. Mentors are paired with current USC Thornton students, helping to guide them while offering strategic career advice that spans all facets of professional music.
Nicole Plantin
Willie Murillo
Ruth Eliel
Peter Rotter
Tina Farris
Vince Womack
Meet the Mentors
Mentors are chosen to serve because of their significant professional accomplishments and their eagerness to support students.
Current Roster
- Jen Appel, Co-Founder & Partner of The Oriel Co (entertainment consulting, content storytelling, and 360-degree creative strategy)
- Binta Brown, Founder of omalilly projects; former Head of Operations and Strategy at Keep Cool/RCA Records.
- Mel Brown, Grammy winner, producer, entrepreneur
- Dallin Burns, film composer (credits include: Rebel Moon, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Zach Snyder’s Justice League)
- Ben Cadwallader, Executive Director, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO)
- Rob Cavallo, Grammy-winning producer (Green Day, My Chemical Romance, and more)
- Ray Chew, keyboardist, contemporary and orchestral arranger, music director of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars
- Ed Eckstine, former president of Mercury Records, music industry executive of multi-platinum and Grammy winning projects.
- John Ehmann, Former A&R, RCA Music Group; Interscope Records (Lana Del Rey, Carly Rae Jepsen)
- Ruth Eliel, Arts Manager; Former Executive Director of LACO and Colburn Foundation
- Tina Farris, Tour Manager (The Roots, Chris Rock, Nicki Minaj, Queen Latifah)
- Gregg Field, Grammy Award Winner and Producer
- Grant Gershon, Conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra)
- María Guinand, Choral Conductor
- Alan Hankers, composer for films, video games, and commercial advertisements (clients include: Mercedes, David Yurman, Amazon).
- Dorian Holley, Musician; backing singer, vocal coach (Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart, & more)
- Richard Jones, USC Thornton Board of Directors, Opera and Classical
- Brooke Morrow, Executive Director, Creative Development, Writer/Publisher Relations at Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI)
- Willie Murillo, Producer, trumpeter, vocalist, writer (Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, The Brian Setzer Orchestra)
- Rebecca Nisco, Assistant Music and Sound Editor at Pixar Animation Studios, music supervisor, freelance composer.
- Kellindo Parker, lead guitarist and co-composer for Janelle Monae, multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter.
- Greg Phillinganes, Keyboardist and Arranger (Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Eric Clapton, Toto)
- Nicole Plantin, Owner, Soeur Agency (entertainment consulting, A&R, creative strategy, project and talent management)
- Dawn Richard, founding member of Dirty Money and Danity Kane; independent R&B and classical musician; singer/songwriter, animator, entrepreneur.
- Makeba Riddick, Grammy-nominated songwriter for Rihanna (“Rude Boy,” “Disturbia”), Jennifer Lopez (“All I Have”), Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxon, and more.
- Cliff Rigano, Head of Culture, Lifestyle & Event Marketing for Mast – Jagermeister; singer with Dry Kill Logic; published songwriter with EMI
- Sizzy Rocket, independent musician, singer, songwriter (Tayla Parx, Fernando Garibay, & more)
- Peter Rotter, founder of Encompass Music Partners and Encompass Creative, Music/Studio Contractor,
- Daniel Walker, President, Perfect Works, content producer for film, tv, theater, photography, digital archives and music; acclaimed historian, philanthropist and social entrepreneur
- Chloe Walsh, Co-Founder & Partner at The Oriel Co (entertainment consulting, content storytelling, 360-degree creative strategy)
- Benjamin Williams, Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist.
- Angela Winbush, Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, producer, musician and performer
- Vince Womack, Music Director, James A. Foshay Learning Center
Application Process
Current USC Thornton students must fill out an application to participate in the USC Thornton Music Mentorship Program, which is typically announced in the fall semester. The program is open to all undergraduate and graduate music majors, though priority is given to students who are within one year of graduation.
Enrollment in the program is selective and competitive. Prospective mentees are selected based upon the quality of responses to the prompts in the application, as well as a students’ readiness for the professional opportunity. Applications are evaluated by members of the School of Music leadership team.
María Guinand
Stay Connected
Questions about the USC Thornton Music Mentorship Program can be directed to Michael Doshier, Special Assistant to the Dean, at doshier@usc.edu.