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.
Kellindo Parker
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 Grammy-nominated songwriter Makeba Riddick; entrepreneur and agency owner Nicole Plantin; renowned choral conductor Grant Gershon; and celebrated multi-instrumentalist Kellindo Parker. 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
Ben Williams
Ruth Eliel
Grant Gershon
Dawn Richard
Vince Womack
Meet the Mentors
Mentors are chosen to serve because of their significant professional accomplishments and their eagerness to support students.
Current Roster
- Ellison Abbott: Senior Director of Partnership Marketing & Special Projects, Roc Nation
- Sophie Ash: Founder, Nineties Money consultancy; music executive, entrepreneur (Def Jam, Translation, Parkwood Entertainment)
- Stephen Bra: Grammy-award winning songwriter, drummer, record producer
- Melvin Brown: Grammy-award winning bassist, guitarist, producer, & entrepreneur
- Dallin Burns: Composer (credits include: Rebel Moon, Sonic The Hedgehog 2, Zach Snyder’s Justice League)
- Ben Cadwallader: Executive Director, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO)
- Katie Colley: Creative Production & Soundtracks, Netflix Music (Europe, Middle East, Africa, UK)
- Greg Duffy: Music industry professional focused on strategy & analytics (Epic Records, Sony Music, Vevo, Pandora)
- Ed Eckstine: Mercury Records former president with numerous multi-platinum, 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
- Gregg Field: Grammy Award winner and producer
- Kenneth Freundlich: Entertainment industry professional (business, entertainment, IP disputes)
- Grant Gershon: Conductor (Los Angeles Philharmonic, the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra)
- Mak Grgic: Grammy-nominated, Slovenian classical guitarist.
- Alan Hankers: Composer of films, games, and advertisements (Mercedes, David Yurman, Amazon)
- Jayson Jackson: Media/Management/Production Not To Self Ent
- Richard Jones: USC Thornton Board of Councilors; Opera and Classical
- Anibal Luque: Law counsel to global creatives and entrepreneurs
- Cole M. G. N.: Multi-hyphenate musician, record producer, songwriter, mixer; formerly of Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti.
- Brooke Morrow (& Zeb Berg): Executive Vice President, Electric Feel Entertainment & Ventures
- Rebecca Nisco: Pixar Associate Music and Sound Editor; music supervisor & freelance composer
- Kellindo Parker: Multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter; lead guitarist, co-composer for Janelle Monae
- Nicole Plantin: Owner, Soeur Agency
- Saverio Principini: Certified, multi-platinum music producer and Los-Angeles songwriter since 1987.
- Dan Rais: Music and Brand Partnerships, Creative Arts Agency
- Dawn Richard: Singer/songwriter, animator, entrepreneur; founding member of Dirty Money and Danity Kane; R&B and classical musician.
- Makeba Riddick: Grammy-nominated songwriter: Rihanna (“Rude Boy,” “Disturbia”), Jennifer Lopez (“All I Have”), Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Toni Braxon
- Cliff Rigano: EMI published songwriter; Dry Kill Logic singer; Head of Culture, Lifestyle & Event Marketing, Mast-Jagermeister
- Sizzy Rocket: Musician, singer, songwriter (Tayla Parx, Fernando Garibay)
- Gabe Spierer: Global Vice President of Content, Beggars Group
- Brian Taylor: Composer, conductor, arranger & multi-instrumentalist of film, television, video game scores
- Caron Veazy: Founder, Something In Common: talent management & consulting agency
- Daniel Walker: Acclaimed historian, philanthropist, social entrepreneur; multi-media content producer; President, Perfect Works
- Chloe Walsh: Co-Founder & Partner, The Oriel Co
- Benjamin Williams: Grammy Award-winning jazz bassist.
- Angela Winbush: Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, producer, musician, performer
- Vincent Womack: Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
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; priority is given to students who are within 1 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.
Mak Grgic
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.