Author Archive


Photo of a woman in a black dress on a red carpet holding an Emmy award.

Katya Richardson wins New York Emmy for Keeping the Pinelands score

November 6, 2024

USC Thornton Composition program alumna Katya Richardson (’19) won a New York Emmy Award for composing the score to the PBS special, Keeping the Pinelands. The documentary examines how people are finding new ways to help the forests of the New Jersey Pine Barrens survive. This is the composer’s first Emmy Award. *** Photo credit:… Continue reading Katya Richardson wins New York Emmy for Keeping the Pinelands score


photo of a woman holding a cello and smiling off to the side

Cellist Annie Jacobs-Perkins to perform at Wigmore Hall

November 4, 2024

After winning the 2023 Pierre Fournier Award, cellist and USC Thornton alumna Annie Jacobs-Perkins (’18) will perform her debut recital at London’s Wigmore Hall on Nov. 26, accompanied on the piano by Dina Ivanova. To purchase tickets, click here.


Logo for USC Thornton School of Music.

Platoon and RZA present “A Ballet Through Mud” featuring USC Thornton musicians

October 31, 2024

Famed artist RZA, in partnership with the label Platoon, will present his classical album A Ballet Through Mud at the Los Angeles Theatre on Nov. 4. Conducted by Oliver Zeffman, the concert will be performed by USC Thornton students and alumni, following an introduction by KUSC and Classical California. Originally performed by the Colorado Symphony… Continue reading Platoon and RZA present “A Ballet Through Mud” featuring USC Thornton musicians


Logo for USC Thornton School of Music.

Music Teaching & Learning faculty and students featured in conferences

October 30, 2024

USC Thornton Music Teaching & Learning faculty member Candice D. Mattio and doctoral students Mary Elder, Nick Filotei, and Angela Lin presented research at the Biennial Conference of the National Association of Music Education in Atlanta, Georgia, which was held from Sept. 25-28. The conference welcomed the participation of music educators, administrators, and community and… Continue reading Music Teaching & Learning faculty and students featured in conferences


Photograph of seven seated people on an indoor performance stage.

Robert Alexander’s piece “That Thing” premieres with Stephen F. Austin State University Wind Ensemble

October 28, 2024

The Stephen F. Austin (SFA) State University Wind Ensemble premiered USC Thornton Composition alumnus Robert Alexander’s (’18) piece, “That Thing,” on Oct. 15 in the Griffith Fine Arts Building’s Turner Auditorium in Nacogdoches, Texas. The piece was part of the Composing in the Wilderness program, led by adventurer-composer Stephen Lias and offered by the Fairbanks… Continue reading Robert Alexander’s piece “That Thing” premieres with Stephen F. Austin State University Wind Ensemble


Carlos Rafael Rivera an Emmy award on stage at a televised event.

USC Thornton alumni win 2024 Emmy Awards

September 18, 2024

On Sept. 15, three USC Thornton alumni won 2024 Emmy Awards for excellence in television programming and individual achievement. Composer Carlos Rafael Rivera (MM ’04, DMA ’10) won his third Emmy in the Outstanding Music Composition category for “Lessons in Chemistry.” Music editor Ben Schor (‘02) won his first Emmy in the Outstanding Sound Editing… Continue reading USC Thornton alumni win 2024 Emmy Awards


Photo of saxophonist Bob Reynolds performing on stage at an indoor music venue.

Bob Reynolds

September 9, 2024

“My favorite improvisers, regardless of genre, share a talent for spontaneously composing melodies with strong narrative arcs.” says Los Angeles-based saxophonist, composer, and educator Bob Reynolds. “That’s the ideal that’s always inspired my pursuit of this craft.” A three-time Grammy winner with the innovative instrumental collective Snarky Puppy, Reynolds has carved out a unique space… Continue reading Bob Reynolds


Photo of singer Tehillah Alphonso

Tehillah Alphonso

August 28, 2024

New Jersey-born and Nebraska-raised, Tehillah Alphonso is a Nigerian American vocalist, pianist, music director and Grammy-nominated arranger based in Los Angeles, California. A proud summa cum laude graduate of the University of Southern California, she received her B.M. in Popular Music Performance from the Thornton School of Music and was named 2020 Outstanding Graduate, becoming… Continue reading Tehillah Alphonso


Photo of saxophonist Alex Hahn wearing a red jacket and holding a saxophone outdoors in a city environment.

Alex Hahn

August 27, 2024

Alex Hahn is a Grammy Award-winning saxophonist and composer based in Los Angeles, California. Still early in his career, Hahn has had the opportunity to perform with many renowned artists such as Herbie Hancock, Esperanza Spalding, the Grammy Award-winning John Daversa Progressive Big Band, Bob Mintzer, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band, Peter Erskine, John Beasley,… Continue reading Alex Hahn


Photo of Sal Lozano holding a saxophone and smiling.

Sal Lozano

August 19, 2024

Sal Lozano stands out as a leading saxophonist and educator. As a professor of saxophone at the USC Thornton School of Music, Lozano combines a distinguished performance career with a deep commitment to teaching. Lozano’s extensive performance experience includes collaborations with prestigious ensembles such as the Los Angeles Opera, Pacific Symphony and Santa Barbara Symphony.… Continue reading Sal Lozano