Karen Parks performed in Wadada Leo Smith’s world premiere of “America Transformed”
Karen Parks, a USC Thornton Vocal Arts & Opera faculty member, performed in the world premiere of America Transformed by renowned trumpeter and composer Wadada Leo Smith. The premiere, in which Parks was a featured vocalist, took place September 8-11 at Brooklyn College’s Leonard & Claire Tow Center for the Performing Arts. Parks joined the… Continue reading Karen Parks performed in Wadada Leo Smith’s world premiere of “America Transformed”
Delirium Musicum wins three S.F. Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards
Delirium Musicum, a chamber ensemble founded by violinist and USC Thornton alumnus Etienne Gara (GCRT ‘13), won three San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards. In addition to Best Chamber Ensemble and Best New Music Ensemble, they won Best Orchestral Performance for the performance of their latest album, SEASONS, at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian… Continue reading Delirium Musicum wins three S.F. Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards
Daniel Newman-Lessler conducts USC Thornton students in “Unforgettable Sunrise” premiere
On September 30, USC Thornton alumnus Daniel Newman-Lessler (MM ’17, BM ’14) will conduct 54 current students in the premiere of Unforgettable Sunrise, a 70 minute symphony by Jacob Rock and Rob Laufer. Rock, a non-verbal teenager with autism, communicated his idea for the symphony through an app on the iPad. To help realize his… Continue reading Daniel Newman-Lessler conducts USC Thornton students in “Unforgettable Sunrise” premiere
Jazz pianist Donald Vega featured in Trojan Family Magazine
Jazz pianist and USC Thornton alumnus Donald Vega (’99) was featured in the Summer 2023 issue of Trojan Family Magazine. He discussed studying classical piano in Nicaragua, emigrating to the United States and finding community at USC. Vega is a Jazz Studies faculty member at The Juilliard School. He is preparing to release an album… Continue reading Jazz pianist Donald Vega featured in Trojan Family Magazine
Association of Popular Music Education spotlights USC Thornton in August newsletter
The Association for Popular Music Education (APME) featured USC Thornton in the Institutional Member Spotlight of their August 2023 newsletter. They explored the history of Thornton’s Popular Music program and key moments in its past, present and future. In the spotlight, APME shared how alumnus Samuel Rodney Browne’s (‘29) “music of the day” classes at… Continue reading Association of Popular Music Education spotlights USC Thornton in August newsletter
Jo-Michael Scheibe awarded Irish Fulbright
USC Thornton Professor Emeritus of Choral and Sacred Music Jo-Michael Scheibe (DMA ’85) was awarded an Irish Fulbright scholarship for 2023-2024. The scholarship takes him to the Irish Institute of Music and Song in Balbriggan, where he will lead courses in Choral Conducting and Choral Methods and conduct the Institute’s Chamber Chorale.
Jasmin White wins 2023 Queen Sonja Singing Competition
Jasmin White (‘15), a USC Thornton Vocal Arts & Opera alum, won first prize at the Queen Sonja Singing Competition in Oslo, Norway on August 26. The competition began with 40 singers in the preliminary rounds and came down to six finalists. White earned €50,000 and artwork by H.M. Queen Sonja, who presented the awards… Continue reading Jasmin White wins 2023 Queen Sonja Singing Competition
Violinist Francisco Fullana featured in The Strad
Francisco Fullana, a violinist and USC Thornton alumnus (GCRT ‘15), was featured in The Strad on August 7. He discussed the childhood summers in Andalusia that inspired his latest album, Spanish Light. “One of my earliest recollections involves walking hand in hand with my great-grandmother on a hot summer night, as music and laughter filtered… Continue reading Violinist Francisco Fullana featured in The Strad
Anuj Bhutani and Nina C. Young named 2023 Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grantees
USC Thornton Composition master’s student Anuj Bhutani and Composition faculty member Nina C. Young were named 2023 Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grantees. Bhutani, a composer and performer studying under Composition faculty member Ted Hearne, will use his grant to produce a new work with the Khemia Ensemble. Young’s grant will support her creation of… Continue reading Anuj Bhutani and Nina C. Young named 2023 Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grantees
Trojan Family Magazine spotlights video game scoring at USC Thornton
Trojan Family Magazine spotlighted video game scoring at USC Thornton in their Summer 2023 issue, featuring interviews with Screen Scoring program alumna Lauren Kott (MM ’23), and faculty members Jeanine Cowen and Garry Schyman. They explored how Thornton’s Screen Scoring program has contributed to the growth of the video game industry, which is now valued… Continue reading Trojan Family Magazine spotlights video game scoring at USC Thornton