EVENTS
Beyond Category
A dean’s initiative celebrating singular artists and creative leaders whose vision, rigor and influence transcend genre, discipline and convention that expands our students’ sense of what is possible in music.
Overview
Spearheaded by Dean Jason King, USC Thornton’s Beyond Category is a programming series that celebrates iconic artists and creative leaders whose work and influence transcend genre, discipline and established convention.
The series takes its name and inspiration from Duke Ellington, who used the phrase “beyond category” as a term of highest praise for singular artists whose creative achievements defied easy classification. For Ellington, to be beyond category was not simply to work across genres, but to possess such individuality, depth and excellence that conventional labels could not adequately contain the work.
In that spirit, Beyond Category focuses on artists who use the entire world of music as their canvas, unconstrained by established boundaries, orthodoxies or expectations. They are figures of extraordinary rigor, creative depth and breadth, excellence and nonconformity whose singular visions expanded the possibilities of music and culture.
Events
The 2026–27 Stevie Wonder: Beyond Category series launches with a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Songs in the Key of Life, Wonder’s landmark 1976 album and one of the defining achievements of his extraordinary creative career. The celebration begins September 10 at Bovard Auditorium with a conversation panel featuring longtime Stevie Wonder collaborator Greg Phillinganes and special guests, followed on September 24 by a full-scale concert at Bovard Auditorium musically directed by Phillinganes.
Additional Stevie Wonder: Beyond Category events will be presented throughout the academic year and announced at a later date.
Beyond Category Tributes
The series includes sustained, school-wide explorations of major artists and their legacies—such as Quincy Jones in 2024–25 and Nina Simone in 2025–26—as well as individual concerts, conversations and special events celebrating artists such as H.E.R. and Solange, whose multidisciplinary practices represent distinctly 21st-century embodiments of Ellington’s philosophy.
Through these programs, Beyond Category brings together students and faculty from across USC Thornton, creating opportunities for unexpected collaboration, reinterpretation and discovery while celebrating artists whose singular creative visions demonstrate what becomes possible when music is unconstrained by category.
Stevie Wonder
Over a career spanning more than six decades, Stevie Wonder has continually transcended musical boundaries as a singer, songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer. This series examines his singular artistic voice, extraordinary musical innovation, and expansive approach to music and the making of culture.
Co-curated by Dean Jason King and legendary artist Greg Phillinganes, presented by USC Thornton with support from the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and USC Visions & Voices: the Arts & Humanities Initiative.
Nina Simone
Widely celebrated as a global icon of jazz, blues, and civil rights activism, this two-night program examined Nina Simone’s singular artistic voice. Fusing classical precision with the emotional power of gospel, jazz and blues, among other styles, Simone defied genre boundaries and created a body of work that remains timeless.
Co-curated & hosted by curator and pianist Lara Downes and Dean King, presented by USC Visions & Voices: the Arts & Humanities Initiative.
The series’ inaugural season explored and elevated Quincy Jones’s life and legacy. Working across styles and idioms including classical, jazz, pop, R&B, and film scoring, Jones garnered the highest levels of critical & commercial acclaim — all while breaking ground for African American achievement in the industry.
The year-long celebration was organized by the School of Music and presented by USC Visions & Voices: the Arts & Humanities Initiative.
From the Archives
Enjoy archival video footage of Quincy Jones 2024 events, presented by USC Visions & Voices: the Arts & Humanities Initiative, featuring his seminal projects and close collaborators throughout the years. Topics range from Duke Ellington to Patti Austin to Handel’s Messiah, including a special panel event, “In Tune with Quincy Jones.”
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This Week @ Thornton
“This Week @ Thornton” is the School of Music’s newsletter is a recap of our latest events, news and updates. From community spotlights to our “Pick of the Week,” stay connected to what is happening at USC Thornton and the music scene in Los Angeles.
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