Eliza Petrosyan on tour with Tora-i
USC Thornton Popular Music program student and guitarist Eliza Petrosyan is currently on tour with R&B artist Tora-i, who is opening for Omar Apollo. Petrosyan has previously played with artists WizTheMC and Anna Duboc.
Rohan Chander releases debut album
USC Thornton doctoral student in composition Rohan Chander released his debut album, FINAL SKIN, on May 13 from Cantaloupe Records. Chander performed the new project at the kick-off of Wild Up’s newest LA Sunday series on May 15. Earlier this year, he was nominated for a 2022 Gaudeamus Award, one of the most prestigious recognitions… Continue reading Rohan Chander releases debut album
Music of Remembrance premieres new work by Nicolas Lell Benavides
On May 15, Music of Remembrance presents the world premiere of Tres Minutos, a one-act opera by Thornton composition doctoral student Nicolas Lell Benavides and librettist Marella Martin Koch, with dramaturg Hector Vega. The opera follows the story of a sister and a brother who wrestle with questions of identity, duty and belonging during their… Continue reading Music of Remembrance premieres new work by Nicolas Lell Benavides
Kate Crellin publishes debut choral compositions
Kate Crellin (’19), an alumna of the USC Thornton Department of Choral & Sacred Music, recently published her debut choral compositions with Heritage Music Press. The debut pieces include “Day of Fire and Sun,” “Give Me Your Stars to Hold” and “Home-Thoughts, From Abroad.” Crellin currently serves as the choir director for the GRAMMY Award-winning… Continue reading Kate Crellin publishes debut choral compositions
Henry Solomon performs with HAIM at the Hollywood Bowl
Saxophonist, composer, producer and USC Thornton Jazz Studies alumnus Henry Solomon (’18) performed with HAIM during their sold-out homecoming show at the Hollywood Bowl on May 1. Solomon is currently on tour with the band and was previously featured in the music video for their single “Summer Girl.” Earlier this year, he released an EP… Continue reading Henry Solomon performs with HAIM at the Hollywood Bowl
Jensen McRae releases debut album “Are You Happy Now?”
USC Thornton Popular Music program alumna and singer-songwriter Jensen McRae (’19) released her debut album, Are You Happy Now?, on March 22 with Human Re Sources Records. The project features her widely acclaimed hit “Immune” and four other tracks from her EP Who Hurt You? McRae is currently on tour with Amos Lee, and she… Continue reading Jensen McRae releases debut album “Are You Happy Now?”
León F. García Corona
León F. García Corona is a music scholar whose work focuses on the intersections between music and social issues of class and cultural membership in Mexico, and among its diasporic communities in the United States. His scholarship has been published by Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Latin American Music Review, American Music, the Canadian… Continue reading León F. García Corona
Kevin Fitz-Gerald and Sharon Lavery perform with the Downey Symphony Orchestra
On May 7 at 8 p.m., Thornton Keyboard Studies Department Professor Kevin Fitz-Gerald performed as a soloist with the Downey Symphony Orchestra in “Third Time’s A Charm,” an evening of music featuring Mozart’s overture to Don Giovanni and Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C Major, Op. 56. The symphony, which features many… Continue reading Kevin Fitz-Gerald and Sharon Lavery perform with the Downey Symphony Orchestra
Thornton Jazz Studies Department students named winners at DownBeat’s 45th Annual Student Music Awards
Several USC Thornton Jazz Studies Department students won awards in DownBeat’s 45th annual Student Music Awards. These awards will be published in the June edition of DownBeat Magazine. The Michael Neufeld Quintet, led by USC Thornton faculty member Michael Stever, won in the category of asynchronous small jazz combo for undergraduate college outstanding performance. Trombonist,… Continue reading Thornton Jazz Studies Department students named winners at DownBeat’s 45th Annual Student Music Awards
Giovanni Santos (MM ’07) has new work premiered by Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble
This month, the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble will premiere Thornton alum Giovanni Santos’ (MM ‘07) new saxophone concerto, “I Dream Awake,” with soloist and fellow alumnus Andrew Harrison. Santos currently serves as the director of wind and percussion studies at La Sierra University, where he directs the University Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds and Big… Continue reading Giovanni Santos (MM ’07) has new work premiered by Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble