säje releases first single from their debut album
GRAMMY-nominated female vocal supergroup säje, which includes USC Thornton Jazz Studies faculty member Sara Gazarek, released the first single from their upcoming debut album on September 12. The single is a cover of “As This Moment Slips Away” by The Bad Plus bassist Reid Anderson, and it features three-time GRAMMY-winning drummer Terri Lyne Carrington, saxophonist… Continue reading säje releases first single from their debut album
Rohan Chander wins the Gaudeamus Award 2022
Composer and USC Thornton Composition program alum Rohan Chander (MM ‘22) won the Gaudeamus Award, a prestigious, international award for young composers. The announcement was made at the Gaudeamus Festival in Utrecht, The Netherlands on Sept. 11. A composer and performer who performs as BAKUDI SCREAM, Chander was one of the five finalists selected from over 200… Continue reading Rohan Chander wins the Gaudeamus Award 2022
Seth Parker Woods featured in score to Ken Burns film “The U.S. And The Holocaust”
USC Thornton Strings Department faculty member and acclaimed cellist Seth Parker Woods is featured in the score of Ken Burns’ new documentary, “The U.S. and The Holocaust.” Woods performs on the track “Prayer (From Jewish Life, No. 1).” “The U.S. and The Holocaust” is a three-part, six-hour series that examines America’s response to one of… Continue reading Seth Parker Woods featured in score to Ken Burns film “The U.S. And The Holocaust”
Trio of Jazz Studies faculty Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua and Darek Oles releases album “Live in Italy”
The Peter Erskine Trio — composed of Erskine and his fellow Thornton Jazz Studies Department faculty members Darek Oles and Alan Pasqua — released the album “Live in Italy” on Fuzzy Records this May. The live album features ten tracks from the trio’s performance in Camogli, Italy. Renowned bassist John Patitucci commented, “It should come… Continue reading Trio of Jazz Studies faculty Peter Erskine, Alan Pasqua and Darek Oles releases album “Live in Italy”
David Riccobono named assistant principal timpani/section percussion with the LA Phil
By Katalina Garber Percussionist David Riccobono (MM ‘19) recently began a new position as the assistant principal timpani/section percussion with the LA Philharmonic. In this position, Riccobono plays in both the timpani and percussion sections, which makes him one of the busiest players in the orchestra. This marks the first time that the LA Philharmonic… Continue reading David Riccobono named assistant principal timpani/section percussion with the LA Phil
Darryl Taylor hosts international conference for African American Art Song Alliance 25th Anniversary Celebration
Darryl Taylor (MM ‘91, DMA ‘95), founder of the African American Art Song Alliance (AASA), hosts the AASA’s 25th Anniversary Celebration Conference October 13-16 at the Claire Trevor School of the Arts at the University of California, Irvine. The international conference will focus on African American contributions to classical music in two main areas: social… Continue reading Darryl Taylor hosts international conference for African American Art Song Alliance 25th Anniversary Celebration
Yu-Ting Peng wins Music Academy of the West competition
USC Thornton Keyboard Collaborative Arts program doctoral student Yu-Ting Peng won the Music Academy of the West’s Duo Competition this summer. Her classmate, Matthew Harikian, performed in the competition finals. Both students study with Kevin Fitz-Gerald, a professor in the Thornton Keyboard Studies and Keyboard Collaborative Arts programs.
Laura Karpman composes score for rerelease of “The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923)”
USC Thornton Screen Scoring Program Adjunct Instructor Laura Karpman and her wife, Nora Kroll-Rosenbaum, composed the score for the remake of the century-old silent film “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
Alan L. Smith releases song cycle featuring pianist Ryan MacEvoy McCullough
USC Thornton Professor, Chair of the Keyboard Studies Department and Director of Keyboard Collaborative Arts program Alan L. Smith has released the song cycle “Surfing The Thin Places.” Smith composed the music and words in remembrance of his mother, who passed away in April 2018. Commissioned by the Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar, the song… Continue reading Alan L. Smith releases song cycle featuring pianist Ryan MacEvoy McCullough
JoAnn Turovsky featured on “The Legacy of John Williams” podcast
Celebrated harpist and USC Thornton Adjunct Professor JoAnn Turovsky was the focus of an L.A. Studio Legends episode of The Legacy of John Williams podcast on July 15. Turovsky can be heard playing the harp solos on the composer’s film scores including Angela’s Ashes, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Munich and The Book Thief.