Screen Scoring alumni awarded in 2023 Children’s & Family Emmys
USC Thornton Screen Scoring program alumni Alex Nickson (’03), Bob Lydecker (’08, GCRT ’09) and Kevin Lax (’08, GCRT ’09) were awarded in the second annual Children’s & Family Emmy Awards on Dec. 16. They won in the category of Outstanding Music Direction and Composition for an Animated Program with the Netflix series, Kung Fu… Continue reading Screen Scoring alumni awarded in 2023 Children’s & Family Emmys
Leo Birenberg awarded in 75th Creative Arts Emmys
Film and television composer Leo Birenberg (GCRT ’11) was awarded in the 75th Creative Arts Emmy Awards, held January 7 at the Peacock Theater at L.A. LIVE. Alongside co-composer Zach Robinson, Birenberg won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special with Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.… Continue reading Leo Birenberg awarded in 75th Creative Arts Emmys
Ludwig Göransson wins 2024 Golden Globe for Oppenheimer score
Acclaimed composer Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) won Best Original Score for a Motion Picture with Oppenheimer in the 81st Golden Globe Awards, held January 7 at The Beverly Hilton. The film earned awards in five categories, including Best Motion Picture – Drama. Göransson has received two prior Golden Globe nominations for Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther… Continue reading Ludwig Göransson wins 2024 Golden Globe for Oppenheimer score
Amber Wild opened for KISS on their 2023 farewell tour
Amber Wild, a band featuring guitarist and USC Thornton alum Marshall Via (BM ’21, MS ’21) as well as current Thornton student, drummer Thomas Lowrey, opened for KISS on their 2023 “End of the Road” farewell tour, which culminated on Dec. 2 in New York City. The band formed in January 2023 and is led… Continue reading Amber Wild opened for KISS on their 2023 farewell tour
Nina Shekhar joins composition faculty of Mannes School of Music at The New School
Composer, multimedia artist and USC Thornton alumna Nina Shekhar (MM ’20) has joined the composition faculty of Mannes School of Music at The New School. Shekhar recently earned praise from The New Yorker for her pieces “hush” and “rockabye-bye,” which were part of the California Festival this past November. Shekhar currently serves as Composer-in-Residence of… Continue reading Nina Shekhar joins composition faculty of Mannes School of Music at The New School
Keyboard Studies faculty and student release new music
USC Thornton Keyboard Studies faculty member Bernadene Blaha released a CD album, Noskowski & Żeleński: Violin Sonatas, with violinist Laurence Kayaleh via Naxos Records. The album, released Dec. 1 on Apple Music, features the work of Polish composers Zygmunt Noskowski and Władysław Żeleński. A performance of Violin Sonata in A minor off the album can… Continue reading Keyboard Studies faculty and student release new music
Chamber music ensemble AGAVE releases new album
Grammy-nominated chamber music ensemble AGAVE, which features USC Thornton alumni Kevin Cooper (DMA ‘06) and William Skeen (MM ‘01), released the album AGAVE: In Her Hands. The recording features acclaimed soprano Michele Kennedy and works from composers Florence Price, Robert Schumann, Felix Mendelssohn, Pauline Viardot, Dora Pejacevic and Margaret Bonds. AGAVE: In Her Hands celebrates… Continue reading Chamber music ensemble AGAVE releases new album
Ludwig Göransson nominated in 2024 Golden Globes
Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) was nominated in the 2024 Golden Globes for Best Original Score with Oppenheimer, announced Dec. 11. Oppenheimer earned eight nominations, coming in second next to Barbie, which led with nine. Göransson has earned endless praise for composing the film’s distinctive soundtrack since its July 2023 premiere. He received multiple Grammy nominations… Continue reading Ludwig Göransson nominated in 2024 Golden Globes
Jeff Brabec and Todd Brabec receive Support of Songwriters and Publishers Award from AIMP LA
Jeff Brabec and Todd Brabec, faculty members in the USC Thornton Music Industry program, received the Support of Songwriters and Publishers Award at AIMP LA’s 2023 Holiday Party and Annual Awards on Dec. 5. The Association of Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) held their year-end event in Beverly Hills, CA. AIMP LA president Marc Caruso presented… Continue reading Jeff Brabec and Todd Brabec receive Support of Songwriters and Publishers Award from AIMP LA
Dean Jason King talks diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education
On Nov. 24, USC Thornton Dean Jason King was featured in a Forbes article about diversity, equity and inclusion in academia. King explained how representation, allyship and diversity can operate in a university setting and why they’re important. He emphasized that DEI initiatives in higher education are ongoing, with representation being at the center of… Continue reading Dean Jason King talks diversity, equity and inclusion in higher education