Gretchen Parlato wins 2022 German Jazz Prize
USC Thornton alumna and GRAMMY-nominated composer and vocalist Gretchen Parlato recently won a German Jazz Prize for Vocal Album of the Year (International) at Deutscher Jazzpreis 2022 for her album Flor. The Deutscher Jazzpreis aims to highlight the diversity and creativity of the German jazz scene and honors exceptional, artistic and innovative achievements in a… Continue reading Gretchen Parlato wins 2022 German Jazz Prize
Donald Crockett conducts piano quartet of Thornton alumni and faculty for MicroFest at The Wende Museum
USC Thornton Composition Program Chair Donald Crockett will conduct USC Thornton alumni Vicki Ray (DMA ’88), Steven Vanhauwaert (MM ’06, GCRT ’08) and Sarah Gibson (MM ’10, DMA ’15) and Thornton faculty member Aron Kallay in Ivan Wyschnegradsky’s “Music for Four Quarter-Tone Pianos” at MicroFest on June 3 at the Wende Museum. MicroFest is the… Continue reading Donald Crockett conducts piano quartet of Thornton alumni and faculty for MicroFest at The Wende Museum
David Riccobono joins St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
David Riccobono (MM ’19), an alumnus of the USC Thornton Winds & Percussion Department and a current graduate certificate student, will be joining the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as the associate principal timpani and section percussion. Riccobono has previously played with groups such as the Long Beach Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Malaysian Philharmonic… Continue reading David Riccobono joins St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Tovi Schenk featured in Annenberg Radio News
Freshman Thornton Music Production student Tovi Schenk was interviewed in an Annenberg Radio News segment about a piece he is composing based on an early romantic art song called “Erlking” (Erlkönig) by Franz Shubert. Schenk has previously released one self-written song entitled “PLEASE.”
Tehillah Alphonso interviewed by Broadway World
USC Thornton alumna Tehillah Alphonso (’20) was recently interviewed by Broadway World, where she discussed her first GRAMMY nomination, some of her favorite projects that she’s worked on and her process for arranging songs. She also shared some advice for people of color and women looking to break into the music industry. “Whatever you’re passionate… Continue reading Tehillah Alphonso interviewed by Broadway World
Rod Gilfry makes debut as Claudius in Brett Dean’s “Hamlet” at The Met
On May 13, two-time GRAMMY nominee and Thornton Vocal Arts & Opera faculty member Rod Gilfry debuted as Claudius in the Metropolitan Opera Company premiere of Australian composer Brett Dean’s Hamlet, a bold adaptation of Shakespeare’s timeless drama. Gilfry is an acclaimed worldwide performer in opera, musicals and cabaret. Throughout his career, he has performed… Continue reading Rod Gilfry makes debut as Claudius in Brett Dean’s “Hamlet” at The Met
Thornton Keyboard Studies program student Cameron Williams featured in The Daily Trojan
Cameron Williams, a USC Thornton student majoring in piano performance and computer science games, discussed his passions for both music and designing video games in an article for the Daily Trojan. Williams began studying piano with USC Thornton faculty member Bernadene Blaha when he was a senior in high school, and he has continued to… Continue reading Thornton Keyboard Studies program student Cameron Williams featured in The Daily Trojan
Yura Lee named principal violist of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
USC Thornton Strings Department Associate Professor of Practice Yura Lee was appointed principal violist of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO). Lee assumes her new post in the 2022-23 season. Lee is a recipient of the Lincoln Center’s prestigious Avery Fisher Career Grant, and at age 12, she became the youngest artist to ever receive… Continue reading Yura Lee named principal violist of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Popular music program students perform at BMI Pop Awards
On May 10, a group of USC Thornton Popular Music program students including Katherine Nerro, Mateo Gonzales, Aden Black, Jack Munson and Yeji Kim on vocals, Alec Romo-Nichols on drums, Romel Veal and Louie Pereira percussion, Kai Hagen on bass, Soona Lee-Tolley and Manuel Martinez on guitar and Sophie Kierszenbaum and Christopher Roberts on keyboards,… Continue reading Popular music program students perform at BMI Pop Awards
Thornton students and alumni win at Virginia Waring International Piano Competition
Several USC Thornton students and alumni won awards in the 2022 Virginia Waring International Piano Competition. Christopher Richardson, a master’s student in the Thornton Keyboard Studies program, won second place in the concerto division. Keyboard studies DMA candidate Andrew Boyle and USC Thornton alumnus Benjamin Hopkins (BM ’12, GC ’14, MM ’16) also won solo… Continue reading Thornton students and alumni win at Virginia Waring International Piano Competition