Thornton alumni win Copland House Residencies
Thornton composition alumni Sarah Gibson (MM ‘10, DMA ‘15), Lansing McLoskey (MM ‘92) and Ali Can Puskulcu (MM ‘18) were selected from a pool of 221 composers as winners of the 2021 Copland House Residency Awards. Every year, the Copland House invites eight to ten American composers to reside at Rock Hill, Aaron Copland’s restored,… Continue reading Thornton alumni win Copland House Residencies
Julia Adolphe premieres violin concerto with LA Phil
Composition DMA student Julia Adolphe (MM ‘12) premiered a violin concerto, “Woven Loom, Silver Spindle,” with the LA Philarmonic in December. She collaborated closely with Martin Chalifour, the LA Phil’s principal concertmaster and a faculty member of the USC Thornton Strings program, on this piece during the 2020 lockdown. This is the second commission that… Continue reading Julia Adolphe premieres violin concerto with LA Phil
USC Thornton alumni and students named “composers and performers to watch” by The Washington Post
USC Thornton alumni and students were recently highlighted in The Washington Post’s round-up of 22 composers and performers to watch in 2022. This list includes current DMA student in composition Rohan Chander, as well as two alumni: choral composer Dale Trumbore (MM’11) and cellist and composer Paul Wiancko (‘05). The Washington Post said “this year’s… Continue reading USC Thornton alumni and students named “composers and performers to watch” by The Washington Post
Sophie Beem profiled in Daily Trojan
USC Thornton junior Sophie Beem was recently featured in an article for the Daily Trojan. The piece explored Beem’s journey in the music industry as a songwriter and an artist. Before attending Thornton, Beem was signed to a three-year deal with Beyoncé’s management and entertainment company, Parkwood Entertainment, and she also toured with Charlie Puth… Continue reading Sophie Beem profiled in Daily Trojan
Jon Burlingame wins 2021 ASCAP Award for penning Midnight Cowboy essay
Last year, Jon Burlingame, a faculty member in USC Thornton’s Screen Scoring program, received the ASCAP Foundation Paul Williams “Loved the Liner Notes” Award for his 4,000-word essay that was included in an expanded reissue of the Midnight Cowboy film soundtrack. Burlingame is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on movie music… Continue reading Jon Burlingame wins 2021 ASCAP Award for penning Midnight Cowboy essay
Gretchen Parlato joins the SFJAZZ Collective
GRAMMY-nominated vocalist and USC Thornton alum Gretchen Parlato (GCRT ‘03) recently joined the SFJAZZ Collective, an eight-person jazz ensemble and democratic composer’s workshop. She made her debut with the group, along with two other new members, at the SFJAZZ Center in late October. Parlato is the sole soloist amongst a band of instrumentalists, a situation… Continue reading Gretchen Parlato joins the SFJAZZ Collective
Lenny Hayes performs virtual concert as part of Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration
Classical pianist and keyboard studies doctoral student Lenny Hayes will give a livestreamed performance Saturday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. as part of the Santa Monica Symphony’s Virtual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Concert. The event also features a question-and-answer session with Hayes and Darlene Evans, chair of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.… Continue reading Lenny Hayes performs virtual concert as part of Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration
Matthew Mason premieres piano concerto with Glacier Symphony Orchestra
Piano performance alum and composer Matthew Mason (MM ‘02) will premiere a piano concerto, “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,” with the Glacier Symphony Orchestra on February 19 and 20. Pianist and fellow Thornton alum Roger Wright will perform as soloist. The 22-minute piano concerto is a unique take on Sergei Rachmaninoff’s composition of the… Continue reading Matthew Mason premieres piano concerto with Glacier Symphony Orchestra
January 8: Spring 2022 Restart Update
Dear Thornton Students: Happy New Year to each of you. I hope your holidays were filled with joy and time with loved ones. I look forward to welcoming you all back to campus sometime soon. The start of the new year coincides with a challenging phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, and I write to you with… Continue reading January 8: Spring 2022 Restart Update
Michael Abels featured in Billboard about diversifying the film scoring industry
Michael Abels (BM ‘84), an award-winning composer and USC Thornton alumnus, was featured alongside Bridgerton composer Kris Bowers in a Billboard story about composers helping to diversify the film scoring industry. Abels spoke about how he started working with Get Out director Jordan Peele and how that opportunity led him to co-found the Composers Diversity… Continue reading Michael Abels featured in Billboard about diversifying the film scoring industry