Strauss Shi to solo with Pacific Symphony
Violinist and USC Thornton Master’s of Music student Strauss Shi will be a featured soloist in the Pacific Symphony’s Symphony in the Cities series. Carl St.Clair, the Music Director of the Pacific Symphony and Artistic Leader and Principal Conductor of the USC Thornton Orchestras, will conduct the four concerts that will take place over two […]
David Riccobono wins Principal Percussion position with the Long Beach Symphony
USC Thornton alumni performed spectacularly well at the recent Long Beach Symphony audition. David Riccobono (MM ’19) won the Principal Percussion position while Jeff Grant (GCRT ’14) placed second. Riccobono, who received his Bachelor’s degree from UCLA in 2017, studied with Los Angeles Philharmonic percussionists and USC Thornton faculty members Joseph Pereira and James Babor […]
USC Percussion Group noted in LA Times
The USC Percussion Group performed “Fear-Release” by Ellen Reid at the third-annual LA Phil’s Noon to Midnight event. The LA Times mentioned the performance in their review of the event, saying it was “captivating in its gentle rustling.” Also mentioned was Thornton alumna and faculty member Sara Gibson’s performance with HOCKET and percussionist Michael Basak’s […]
USC musicians to perform at LA Phil’s Noon to Midnight event
On Saturday, June 1 the LA Phil celebrates new music with their third-annual Noon to Midnight event, a twelve-hour marathon featuring many of California’s finest ensembles in pop-up performances around Walt Disney Concert Hall. The day-long lineup features several ensembles that feature USC Thornton musicians, including USC Thornton Percussion Group, HOCKET, Sakura Cello Quintet, Calder […]
India Anderson selected as first female drum major of Trojan Marching Band
USC Thornton undergraduate India Anderson was selected as the 2019-2020 drum major of the USC Trojan Marching Band. For the first time in its over 100-year history, the Spirit of Troy will be led by a woman. “I think it’s just great to have the leader of the band be a woman,” Anderson told Annenberg […]
José Gonzalez Granero premieres composition
USC Thornton alumnus José Gonzalez Granero (GRCT ’09) premiered his composition “Gion Overture” with the Emporia Symphony Orchestra last week. Granero, who is the Principal Clarinetist for the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, wrote the piece based on the historical neighborhood of Gion in Kyoto, Japan.
Jim Self featured on cover of AFM International Musician magazine
USC Thornton Winds and Percussion faculty member Jim Self was featured on the cover of the International American Federation of Musicians magazine’s March issue. The cover article discusses Self’s prolific success as an international soloist, chamber musician, orchestral tubist, studio musician, composer, and a life-long educator. Self also discusses his journey as a solo performing […]
Gernot Wolfgang collaborates with Thornton faculty and alumni on new album
USC Thornton alumnus Gernot Wolfgang (’94) just announced his new chamber music album Vienna and the West on Albany Records. The album, which was recorded over four days in May 2018, features Thornton faculty members Judith Farmer, Ben Hong and Andrew Shulman, as well as Thornton alumni Nic Gerpe (DMA ’12), Edgar Lopez (MM’ 15, […]
Thomas Hooten releases album celebrating John Williams
Thomas Hooten, a USC Thornton faculty member and the Principal Trumpet of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, has released the album, Hooten Plays Williams. Comprised of two pieces by the award-winning composer John Williams, Concerto for Trumpet and Orchestra and Born on the Fourth of July, the album was funded through a successful Kickstarter campaign that […]
Max Opferkuch wins Pasadena Showcase Instrumental Competition
Clarinetist Max Opferkuch, an undergraduate at USC Thornton and the principal clarinetist in the student-run USC Concerto Chamber Orchestra, won the Grand Prize of the 33rd Pasadena Showcase Instrumental Competition. As part of his prize, he received $6000 to support his studies. The showcase for string, woodwind and brass music students from Southern California aged […]