Author Archive


Popular music artist Remi Wolf performs on stage.

Remi Wolf joins Paramore and Olivia Rodrigo on tour

December 6, 2023

USC Thornton Popular Music program alumna Remi Wolf (‘18) was a special guest on Paramore’s Australian tour in November. Wolf performed at all six shows across Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland. She is featured on the track “You First” off their latest album, Re: This is Why. Wolf will join artist Olivia Rodrigo on the… Continue reading Remi Wolf joins Paramore and Olivia Rodrigo on tour


Black and white photo of a roll of unspooled audio tape for motion pictures.

Thornton alumni win in 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards

December 4, 2023

USC Thornton alumni won in various categories of the 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards, which were presented Nov. 15 at The Avalon in Los Angeles. Music Industry alum Angela Leus (’22) won in the film music supervision category for her work on Trolls Band Together. Screen Scoring alum Fabrizio Mancinelli (GCRT ’09) won best… Continue reading Thornton alumni win in 2023 Hollywood Music in Media Awards


Composer Austin Wintory conducting an orchestra behind a podium on a sound stage.

Austin Wintory co-composed score for “Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical”

December 1, 2023

USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Austin Wintory (‘07) co-composed the score for the video game “Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical,” developed by Summerfall Studios. According to Variety, the urban-fantasy game, which was released Aug. 10, is unique for allowing players to choose how a song will develop lyrically, musically and emotionally. Wintory described this feature… Continue reading Austin Wintory co-composed score for “Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical”


Photo of classical guitarist Mak Grgić holding a guitar.

Mak Grgić’s company, Notey, receives InnoVision Award for Education and Technology

November 29, 2023

Mak Grgić (MM ’12, DMA ’16, GCRT ’20), a Grammy-nominated guitarist and USC Thornton Arts Leadership alumnus, received the InnoVision Award for Education and Technology for Notey, the startup company he co-founded in 2022. The company also includes USC alumni Adithya Bellathur, Jack Bailey and Andrew Hulin. Notey is an AI-based music education company that… Continue reading Mak Grgić’s company, Notey, receives InnoVision Award for Education and Technology


Black and white photo of Michael Tilson Thomas wearing a black turtleneck.

San Francisco to honor Michael Tilson Thomas with street name

November 28, 2023

San Francisco mayor London N. Breed has introduced legislation that would rename the Civic Center block near Davies Symphony Hall after celebrated conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, a Thornton alumnus and Judge Widney Professor at USC. The block between Franklin Street and Van Ness Avenue will be named “MTT Way” in honor of Thomas’s contributions to… Continue reading San Francisco to honor Michael Tilson Thomas with street name


Photo of Oliviana Marie on the screen scoring soundstage of Warner Bros.

Oliviana Marie wins in 2023 American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers Competition

November 24, 2023

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


Photo of composer Duncan Tuomi.

Duncan Tuomi wins 2023 American Prize in Composition for choral work “The Second Coming”

November 22, 2023

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”


A choir dressed in purple vestments performs on the set of a television show.

Angelica Brooks directs choir as guest on “The Jennifer Hudson Show”

November 20, 2023

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”


Split screen of saxophonist and violin player performing outdoors.

Alumni perform with Ms. Lauryn Hill and Fugees in Los Angeles

November 17, 2023

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 holding a guitar and wearing a hat.

Bruce Forman releases new book of solo jazz guitar etudes

November 15, 2023

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