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Thornton Music Teaching & Learning program alumni win award from the National Association for Music Education

August 26, 2022

Four alumni of the USC Thornton Music Teaching & Learning program — primary investigator/author Elizabeth Palmer, (DMA ’17), Tina Huynh (MM ’14, DMA ’19), Christine D’Alexander (MM ’10, DMA ‘15) and Lisa A. Crawford (DMA ’16) — created a research group and won a competitive award from the National Association for Music Education for their pilot… Continue reading Thornton Music Teaching & Learning program alumni win award from the National Association for Music Education


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Josh Kun quoted in the Los Angeles Times

August 24, 2022

USC Thornton Interim Dean Josh Kun was quoted in the Los Angeles Times in a feature about Arabic-language pop and Elyanna, a 20-year-old Palestinian-Chilean pop singer from Tarzana.


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Beatriz Ilari named to the editorial board of Music Research Annual

August 22, 2022

Thornton Music Teaching & Learning Associate Professor Beatriz Ilari was named to the editorial board of Music Research Annual. The publication is the first peer-reviewed journal devoted to publishing review essays from the full range of academic disciplines that study music. Thornton Interim Dean Josh Kun is also on the editorial board, which features scholars… Continue reading Beatriz Ilari named to the editorial board of Music Research Annual


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Chris Garwood launches online learning platform for violinists

August 18, 2022

Online classical music education company tonebase, founded by Thornton Classical Guitar program alumnus Chris Garwood (’15), recently launched a learning platform for violinists. The new platform features a curated library of pre-recorded lessons and courses taught by renowned violinists and pedagogues including USC Thornton Jascha Heifetz Chair in Violin Glenn Dicterow, Aleksey Igudesman, Shmuel Ashkenasi,… Continue reading Chris Garwood launches online learning platform for violinists


Photo of Ismael Ariel Guerrero Bombut holding his cello in front of a downtown city wall.

Ismael Guerrero named 2022-23 Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen LA Phil Resident Fellow

August 15, 2022

Cellist and Thornton alumnus Ismael Guerrero (M.M. ’22) was named a 2022-23 Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen LA Phil Resident Fellow. The program trains early-career symphonic musicians who represent or serve historically underrepresented groups.


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Lenny Hayes debuts at Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Inner City Youth Orchestra

August 10, 2022

Keyboard Studies doctoral student, graduate teaching assistant and pianist Leonard (Lenny) Hayes was the featured guest artist during a performance with the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles at Walt Disney Concert Hall on July 10. His debut at the storied hall, the performance featured a piano and orchestra arrangement of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.”


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Daniel Gee named music director of Santa Barbara Youth Symphony

August 4, 2022

Choral & sacred music alumnus Daniel Gee (MM ’15, DMA ’20) was named music director of the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony. Gee also serves as the director of choral activities and an assistant professor of music at Westmont College in Montecito, California.


Photo of Katelyn Vahala sitting beside sheet music for piano.

Katelyn Vahala named a prize winner at 2022 International Bach Competition

August 1, 2022

Thornton Keyboard Studies Department doctoral student Katelyn Vahala (’18, MM ’21) was named a Bach prize winner in piano at the 2022 International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition held July 12-23 in Leipzig, Germany. In 2019, Vahala was among the winners of the Rosalyn Tureck International Bach Competition, where she also won the contemporary music award.… Continue reading Katelyn Vahala named a prize winner at 2022 International Bach Competition


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Anni Hochhalter releases album with WindSync

July 28, 2022

French horn performance alumna and international chamber musician Anni Hochhalter (’05) released the album “All Worlds, All Times” with the wind quintet WindSync on the New York label Bright Shiny Things on April 29.


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H. Robert Reynolds conducts works by Frank Ticheli and Giovanni Santos at Boston University Tanglewood Institute

July 25, 2022

On July 31, former principal conductor of the USC Thornton Wind Ensemble H. Robert Reynolds conducts works by USC Thornton Professor of Composition Frank Ticheli and Thornton alumnus Giovanni Santos (MM ’07) at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute.