Popular music sophomore Alix Page on tour with Gracie Abrams
Alix Page, a sophomore in the Popular Music program, is opening for Interscope artist Gracie Abrams on the North American leg of her This Is What It Feels Like tour this winter. Page has been recognized for her songwriting and artistry by outlets such as Ones to Watch, and she released her debut EP Old… Continue reading Popular music sophomore Alix Page on tour with Gracie Abrams
February 11: USC Thornton Returns to In-Person Performances
Dear Thornton Community, As the 2022 spring semester gets underway, USC Thornton students are preparing for a return to live performances, and I’m proud to announce that all departmental and ensemble events are open to in-person, limited capacity audiences. After months of not being able to accommodate live audiences for the 100+ events we present… Continue reading February 11: USC Thornton Returns to In-Person Performances
Austin Wintory nominated for 2022 Society of Composers & Lyricists Award
USC Thornton Composition program alum Austin Wintory (‘07) is nominated for a 2022 Society of Composers & Lyricists Award for his work on the multiplayer third-person shooter game Aliens: Fireteam Elite. Wintory is best known for his score for the game Journey, which was the first GRAMMY-nominated computer game score. He has also scored nearly… Continue reading Austin Wintory nominated for 2022 Society of Composers & Lyricists Award
Justus Ross performs as part of concert celebrating Black creativity
USC Thornton strings alumnus Justus Ross is performing at Castle of our Skins’ inaugural Inter-Collegiate Black Student Union Fellowship concert, What is Black Creativity?, on Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. This performance is the capstone event of a five-month program in which Black students from the Longy School of Music, the New England Conservatory and… Continue reading Justus Ross performs as part of concert celebrating Black creativity
Alex Nickson
As senior vice president of television music for DreamWorks Animation, Alex Nickson oversees the musical creative direction for the studio’s rapidly growing slate of original television projects, including content for Netflix, Apple TV+, Peacock, Amazon, Hulu and other leading broadcasters around the world. Some of the most recent series include Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, Gabby’s Dollhouse, The… Continue reading Alex Nickson
USC Thornton remembers jazz guitarist and former studio guitar faculty member Joe Diorio
Jazz guitarist and former USC Thornton Studio Guitar program faculty member Joe Diorio passed away at the age of 85 on Feb. 2. During his career, Diorio established himself as a fixture of the American jazz scene, playing with Sonny Stitt, Hal Crook, Anita O’Day, Jaco Pastorius and Freddie Hubbard, among others. Diorio was inspired… Continue reading USC Thornton remembers jazz guitarist and former studio guitar faculty member Joe Diorio
Marcello Carelli releases debut album
Marcello Carelli, a master’s student in the USC Thornton Jazz Studies Department, releases his debut album, The Era, on Feb. 11. The album is a culmination of Carelli’s first four years as a composer and features seven original compositions.
Vijay Venkatesh talks the importance of channeling life experience into his playing on The Playful Musician podcast
Vijay Venkatesh (‘17), an alumnus of the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies Department, was recently a guest on The Playful Musician podcast. During his conversation with host Steve Davidson, he spoke about the importance of channeling life experiences into his performances. “Channeling life experiences into a piece of music is also paramount to releasing its character.… Continue reading Vijay Venkatesh talks the importance of channeling life experience into his playing on The Playful Musician podcast
Reyna Gordon promoted to associate professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Vocal arts alum Dr. Reyna Gordon (BM ‘01) has been promoted to associate professor and awarded tenure in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. Gordon currently serves as one of the co-directors of the Vanderbilt Music Cognition Lab, where she leads an interdisciplinary research program focused on musicality… Continue reading Reyna Gordon promoted to associate professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Jenny Wong codirects the LA Master Chorale in a program of works by Dale Trumbore, Saunder Choi and Zanaida Robles
USC Thornton Department of Choral & Sacred Music alum Jenny Wong (MM ‘13, DMA ‘17) will be co-directing the Los Angeles Master Chorale on Jan. 30. in City Called Heaven. The program, which takes its name from the famous African American spiritual, will explore themes of homecoming and aspiring toward paradise. It will feature works… Continue reading Jenny Wong codirects the LA Master Chorale in a program of works by Dale Trumbore, Saunder Choi and Zanaida Robles