Camae Ayewa hosts virtual USC Visions & Voices event
USC Visions & Voices hosts a virtual event on Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. with Black Quantum Futurism, a multidisciplinary collaboration between USC Thornton Composition faculty member Camae Ayewa and Rasheedah Phillips that explores the intersections of futurism, creative media, DIY-aesthetics and activism in marginalized communities through an alternative temporal lens. The duo will host… Continue reading Camae Ayewa hosts virtual USC Visions & Voices event
Beatriz Ilari interviewed by the Wall Street Journal
USC Thornton Music Teaching & Learning Program Chair Beatriz Ilari was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal about the song “Baby Shark” and its evolution into a worldwide phenomenon. Ilari noted how children love the song for its repetition and parents hate it for the same reason. “Parents get sick and tired of it, but… Continue reading Beatriz Ilari interviewed by the Wall Street Journal
Ron McCurdy Quartet performs with Pacific Symphony
USC Thornton Jazz Studies Department faculty member and assistant dean of the justice, equity, diversity and inclusion committee Ron McCurdy and his quartet play with the Pacific Symphony on Feb. 27 in a multimedia concert performance of Langston Hughes’ jazz poem suite Ask Your Mama: Twelve Moods for Jazz. Directed by artistic leader and principal… Continue reading Ron McCurdy Quartet performs with Pacific Symphony
The Golden Bridge premieres works from USC Thornton faculty and alumni
During a concert on Feb. 19, The Golden Bridge — a 20-member choral group led by USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music Department faculty member Suzi Digby — will premiere works by fellow choral faculty member Nick Strimple and Thornton alumnus Saunder Choi (MM ‘16). The program includes the world premieres of “The Silver Swan”… Continue reading The Golden Bridge premieres works from USC Thornton faculty and alumni
Quenton Blache performs with the Peninsula Symphony with guest conductor Andrew Shulman
USC Thornton composition and cello performance student Quenton Blache performs with the Peninsula Symphony on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. The concert will feature guest conductor Andrew Shulman, a USC Thornton Strings Department faculty member, who will be giving a pre-concert lecture at 6:15 p.m. Blache is an accomplished cellist and composer. In 2021, he… Continue reading Quenton Blache performs with the Peninsula Symphony with guest conductor Andrew Shulman
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