Oliviana Marie wins in 2023 American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers Competition
USC Thornton Composition program student Oliviana Marie won two awards in the 2023 American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC) Student Competition. She earned second place in the Ray and Jon Charles Vocal Arranging category for “Wayfarin Stranger Hard Times” and third place in the Bill Conti Big Band Arranging category for “There Ain’t… Continue reading Oliviana Marie wins in 2023 American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers Competition
Duncan Tuomi wins 2023 American Prize in Composition for choral work “The Second Coming”
Duncan Tuomi (MM ’22), a DMA student in the USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music program, won the 2023 American Prize in Composition in the short choral works category for The Second Coming. Tuomi, who is also associate conductor of the USC Thornton Apollo Chorus, wrote the piece as a first-year master’s student under the… Continue reading Duncan Tuomi wins 2023 American Prize in Composition for choral work “The Second Coming”
Angelica Brooks directs choir as guest on “The Jennifer Hudson Show”
Angelica Brooks, a DMA student in the USC Thornton Music Teaching & Learning program, appeared as a guest on The Jennifer Hudson Show for her Musical Mondays segment on Nov. 6. Brooks turned audience members into a choir ensemble, directing them in a rendition of “Celebration” by Kool and The Gang. Photo courtesy of Angelica… Continue reading Angelica Brooks directs choir as guest on “The Jennifer Hudson Show”
Alumni perform with Ms. Lauryn Hill and Fugees in Los Angeles
On Nov. 4-5, USC Thornton Jazz Studies alumnus Jordan DeTiege (’22) and Strings alumna Karoline Menezes (MM ’15, GCRT ’17) performed in The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour with Ms. Lauryn Hill and the Fugees. DeTeige played saxophone as a member of the brass ensemble, The Regiment Horns, while Menezes played violin as… Continue reading Alumni perform with Ms. Lauryn Hill and Fugees in Los Angeles
Bruce Forman releases new book of solo jazz guitar etudes
Bruce Forman, a USC Thornton Studio Guitar faculty member, released a new book titled Solo Jazz Guitar Etudes. The book, which is based on his Instagram video series First Chorus of the Day, contains 16 re-imagined transcriptions of jazz standards. It was #1 in new releases in jazz music on Amazon. Photo courtesy of bruceforman.com
Stella Cho joins the Colburn School’s cello faculty
USC Thornton Cello Performance alumna Stella Cho (’12, MM ’14, DMA ’22) has joined the Colburn School as a cello instructor. She is also a cello faculty member at Loyola Marymount University. Cho regularly performs in the SAKURA Cello Quintet and the chamber ensemble Delirium Musicum. At Thornton, she studied under Gregor Piatigorsky Chair in… Continue reading Stella Cho joins the Colburn School’s cello faculty
Jeffrey Kahane conducts LACO in world premiere of Nina Young’s “Violin Concerto: Traces”
Jeffrey Kahane, a USC Thornton Keyboard Studies faculty member and conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, will conduct the world premiere of “Violin Concerto: Traces,” composed by Thornton Composition faculty member Nina Young. The piece will be performed by violinist Jennifer Koh on Nov. 11 at the Alex Theatre and Nov. 12 at… Continue reading Jeffrey Kahane conducts LACO in world premiere of Nina Young’s “Violin Concerto: Traces”
Luciana Souza featured in November 2023 issue of DownBeat Magazine
USC Thornton Jazz Studies faculty member Luciana Souza was on the cover of DownBeat Magazine for their November 2023 issue. In this issue, the Brazil-born, Los Angeles-based jazz singer discussed her collaboration with the renowned Trio Corrente on her new album, Cometa. Photo courtesy of Luciana Souza.
Paul Cornish wins third place at Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition
USC Thornton Jazz Studies alumnus Paul Cornish (‘18) won third place in the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition, which took place on October 15 at the Perelman Performing Arts Center in New York City. Cornish, a recent graduate of the Institute, earned a $10,000 cash prize as one of three finalists.… Continue reading Paul Cornish wins third place at Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz International Piano Competition
Patrice Rushen composes new work for “Musical Landscapes in Color” initiative
Patrice Rushen, chair of the USC Thornton Popular Music program, composed a new work for distinguished composer and ethnomusicologist William Banfield’s five-year initiative, “Musical Landscapes in Color.” The initiative aims to spotlight musicians of color and diversify classical music. The first concert in this project, “Harmony in Black,” was performed by the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra… Continue reading Patrice Rushen composes new work for “Musical Landscapes in Color” initiative