Author Archive


Veronika Krausas

Detroit Symphony Orchestra to present world premiere by Veronika Krausas

May 7, 2021

On Saturday, May. 8, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra will present the world premiere of Caryatids by Veronika Krausas. The professor of Composition’s new work won the DSO’s tenth annual Elaine Lebenbom Memorial Award for Female Composers. The concert also includes the Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto featuring Midori, Judge Widney Professor of Music at USC. The digital… Continue reading Detroit Symphony Orchestra to present world premiere by Veronika Krausas


Portrait of Nina Shekhar

Nina Shekhar selected to be Young Concert Artist’s Composer-in-Residence for 2021

May 6, 2021

Thornton alum Nina Shekhar (MM ’20, Composition) has been selected to be the Young Concert Artist’s Composer-in-Residence for 2021. The residency includes a 3-year management contract and a substantial financial package for three commissions. Shekhar is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at Princeton University and also serves as a Composer Teaching Artist Fellow for the Los Angeles… Continue reading Nina Shekhar selected to be Young Concert Artist’s Composer-in-Residence for 2021


Portrait of Remi Wolf

Remi Wolf selected for Fender Next Class of 2021

May 5, 2021

USC Thornton alum Remi Wolf (BM ’18) was selected amongst 25 rising artists as part of the Fender Next Class of 2021. The program is designed to elevate rising musicians that are pushing guitar forward in music and culture. Each artist will receive Fender guitars and amps, as well as marketing support from the company.… Continue reading Remi Wolf selected for Fender Next Class of 2021


Ambrose Akinmusire in dark sweater with orange backdrop

Ambrose Akinmusire interviewed in Grammy.com article

May 5, 2021

Jazz Studies alum Ambrose Akinmusire (MM ’07) was featured in an article for Grammy.com about jazz musicians pushing the genre into the future. The Grammy-nominated trumpeter is described as “A Pathfinder Through The Modern Avant-Garde” and is mentioned among four other pioneers in the field. In the piece, Akinmusire discussed how he considers social context… Continue reading Ambrose Akinmusire interviewed in Grammy.com article


Read more about our safety measures for the Fall 2021 semester

May 4, 2021

Colorful illustration of Los Angeles

Learn about Thornton’s commitment to justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion.

May 3, 2021

Jongnic Bontemps featured in Variety

April 30, 2021

Jongnic Bontemps (GCRT ‘12), an alum of the Screen Scoring program, was featured in Variety about writing scores for four documentaries centered around the lives of Black Americans. “I asked the universe for this,” Bontemps said of his work in an article written by Thornton faculty member and music critic Jon Burlingame. Over the past… Continue reading Jongnic Bontemps featured in Variety


Photo of Nate Sloan on tan background

Nate Sloan highlighted in The New Yorker and The New York Times

April 29, 2021

USC Thornton faculty member Nate Sloan was recently highlighted in The New Yorker and The New York Times. Acclaimed music critic Alex Ross wrote a glowing review of “Switched On Pop,” the podcast Sloan co-hosts with songwriter Charlie Harding, in The New Yorker. In his review, he discussed how Sloan and Harding offer music appreciation… Continue reading Nate Sloan highlighted in The New Yorker and The New York Times


Violinists Etienne Gara and YuEun Kim featured on Volkwagen website

April 27, 2021

USC Thornton alumni Etienne Gara and YuEun Kim (GCRT ‘15, AD ‘17) have been featured on the Volkswagen website for their project, MusiKaravan. Over the last year, the two violinists have been traveling to farms and wineries in a restored 1971 red Volkswagen Westfalia, bringing music outdoors to essential workers. “We don’t always call in… Continue reading Violinists Etienne Gara and YuEun Kim featured on Volkwagen website


Kevin Lyman releases new podcast series ‘My Warped Life’

April 22, 2021

Music Industry faculty member Kevin Lyman has released the first episodes of his new podcast series ‘My Warped Life.’ The series gives a glimpse behind the scenes of the 25 years of the Vans Warped Tour as Lyman shares stories with friends and colleagues from every corner of the festival industry. “I still work hard… Continue reading Kevin Lyman releases new podcast series ‘My Warped Life’