Author Archive


Photo of Thanh Tran

Thanh Tran

December 17, 2024

Thanh Tran is a Los Angeles-based music preparation supervisor, music copyist, and music librarian, preparing scores and parts for film, TV, and games recording sessions. Tran’s notable clients include the Grammy Awards, Disney Parks Entertainment, Hollywood Scoring Los Angeles, “Halo 4 & 5” (343 Industries), American Idol (ABC), the film trailers for Avengers: Endgame and… Continue reading Thanh Tran


Amy Blackman backstage.

Amy Blackman 

December 12, 2024

Amy Blackman was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. After receiving an MA in Cultural Anthropology from Columbia University, she began a career in artist management, based in Los Angeles. For 18 years, Blackman managed the global businesses of multi-Grammy Award winning music artists and producers. Between 2007-2011, she was made cultural ambassador for the US… Continue reading Amy Blackman 


Black and white photo of producer Raphael Saadiq leaning against a wall

Raphael Saadiq Announced as Inaugural Member of the Dean’s Creative Vanguard Program

December 11, 2024

Raphael Saadiq is the USC Thornton School of Music’s inaugural member of the Dean’s Creative Vanguard Program. Under the leadership of Dean Jason King in conjunction with key USC Thornton instructors, Saadiq will mentor students through the spring of 2025, offering his expertise to the next generation of musical innovators. The award-winning, multi-talented artist, producer,… Continue reading Raphael Saadiq Announced as Inaugural Member of the Dean’s Creative Vanguard Program


Photograph of composer Ludwig Goransson smiling at an awards show.

Ludwig Göransson receives 2024 Eliason Merit Award

November 25, 2024

Acclaimed composer Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) has received the 2024 Eliason Merit Award from the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce – Los Angeles (SACC-LA), announced on Nov. 1. “It is a profound honor to receive the Eliason Merit Award,” Göransson said in a statement. “This recognition is a testament to the incredible opportunities I’ve had to… Continue reading Ludwig Göransson receives 2024 Eliason Merit Award


Stewart Gordon named 2025 Teacher of the Year by Music Teachers National Association

November 25, 2024

USC Thornton Keyboard Studies faculty member Stewart Gordon was named 2025 Teacher of the Year by the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA). According to MTNA, the Teacher of the Year Award is presented annually to the candidate who most clearly demonstrates a strong commitment to the music teaching profession.


Headshot of Carl St.Clair

Carl St.Clair concludes historic tenure as music director of the Pacific Symphony

November 25, 2024

Maestro Carl St.Clair concluded his 35-year tenure as music director of the Pacific Symphony, the longest for an American-born conductor of a U.S. orchestra. He is succeeded by Alexander Shelley, who will serve an initial five-year term beginning in the 2026-27 season. St.Clair will become music director laureate in the 2025-26 season, providing a seamless… Continue reading Carl St.Clair concludes historic tenure as music director of the Pacific Symphony


Headshot of Janice McVeigh

In Memoriam: Janice McVeigh

November 21, 2024

Janice McVeigh, former USC Thornton Vocal Arts & Opera faculty member, soprano and voice teacher, has died at the age of 87. McVeigh was an esteemed instructor at the USC Thornton School of Music for 30 years until her retirement, while also maintaining a private voice studio in Diamond Bar. Prior to USC Thornton, she… Continue reading In Memoriam: Janice McVeigh


A woman on stage with a crown in the foreground.

Remi Wolf headlines Netflix’s Poguelandia event

November 18, 2024

Remi Wolf (‘18), a USC Thornton Popular Music program alumna, was one of the headliners for Poguelandia, an immersive experience hosted by Netflix for fans of the television series, Outer Banks. The event took place on Nov. 2 in Santa Monica. In addition to live musical performances, there were various activities related to the TV… Continue reading Remi Wolf headlines Netflix’s Poguelandia event


Photo of singer & actress Renée Elise Goldsberry.

Renée Elise Goldsberry to star in “All In: A Broadway Comedy About Love”

November 13, 2024

Tony Winner and Jazz Studies alum Renée Elise Goldsberry (MM ’97) will star in All In: A Broadway Comedy About Love, premiering Dec. 11 at the Hudson Theatre in New York. Written by Simon Rich and directed by Alex Timbers, All In is a series of hilarious stories about dating, heartbreak and marriage. The production… Continue reading Renée Elise Goldsberry to star in “All In: A Broadway Comedy About Love”


In Memoriam: Donald McInnes

November 6, 2024

Donald McInnes, USC Thornton Professor Emeritus of Strings, has died at the age of 85.  McInnes thrived with a prolific career of performance, recording and teaching in the U.S. and abroad for decades, including years of instruction at the USC Thornton School of Music. McInnes performed with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra and… Continue reading In Memoriam: Donald McInnes