![Black and white photo of Nina Shekhar](https://music.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/NinaShekhar-150x150.jpg)
Nina Shekhar receives Debut Fellowship from Young Musicians Foundation
Composition graduate student Nina Shekhar is one of the first recipients of the Debut Fellowship from the Young Musicians Foundation (YMF). The newly established program aims to empower musical artists who are committed to social justice through arts in education by providing professional development and training in areas vital to building successful initiatives for systemic… Continue reading Nina Shekhar receives Debut Fellowship from Young Musicians Foundation
![Photo of Thomas Mellan](https://music.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/ThomasMellan_Web-150x150.jpg)
Thomas Mellan opens Jacaranda Music’s new season
USC Thornton Composition student and Organ Studies alum Thomas Mellan (BM ’17, MM ’19) recently opened Jacaranda Music’s 2019-2020 season in Los Angeles as a resident organist. Mellan performed in Jacaranda’s opening concert, “Organic Rush,” on Sept. 21 alongside organist and conductor Mark Allen Hilt. Mellan will also close the season in June with a… Continue reading Thomas Mellan opens Jacaranda Music’s new season
![Spencer Lemann with Carol Rosenstein](https://music.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/spencerlemann-150x150.jpg)
Jazz Studies student receives Outstanding Young Philanthropist Award
Jazz Studies student Spencer Lemann has received the Outstanding Young Philanthropist Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Los Angeles Chapter. Lemann will be recognized for his work with Music Mends Minds, a nonprofit that creates musical support groups for patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Lemann has volunteered with Music Mends Minds since its founding… Continue reading Jazz Studies student receives Outstanding Young Philanthropist Award
![Photo of Andrae Alexander](https://music.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/AndraeAlexander_240p-150x150.jpg)
Andrae Alexander
Andrae Alexander is a Grammy Award-winning (2022 Album of the Year – Jon Batiste, “We Are”) composer, musician and professor who moved to Los Angeles in 2009 from Maryland. He is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy Band of Washington, D.C., which is a Presidential Support Unit.… Continue reading Andrae Alexander
![Photo of three international artist fellows](https://music.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/int-arts-fellows-01-150x150.jpg)
Three Thornton doctoral candidates among this year’s USC International Artist Fellows
USC recently announced the 2019-2020 class of International Artist Fellows, including three USC Thornton DMA candidates: Classical Guitar student Bokyung Byun, Keyboard Studies student Wesley Chu, and Composition student Guang Yang. Since 2013, the International Artist Fellowship has provided scholarships and other resources to enable talented artsits from around the world to study at USC’s… Continue reading Three Thornton doctoral candidates among this year’s USC International Artist Fellows
![Carly Rose sitting on table in a diner and laughing](https://music.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Carly-Rose-1-150x150.jpg)
Carly Rose discusses reality TV past and upcoming E.P. on Spectrum News
Music Industry student Carly Rose recently appeared on Spectrum News to talk about her latest single and upcoming debut E.P. Rose released her first single “Birds & Bees” in June and made waves with her indie-pop talent. She plans to release her full E.P. in 2020. “Birds & Bees” isn’t Rose’s first musical breakthrough. Her… Continue reading Carly Rose discusses reality TV past and upcoming E.P. on Spectrum News
![Photo of band Sir, Please performing on stage](https://music.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/SirPlease2_240px-150x150.jpg)
USC Thornton students to perform at KAABOO Festival
USC Thornton Popular Music students Marshall Via (’21) and Shane Cronin (’22) will perform at the KAABOO Del Mar festival on Sat., Sept 14 with their band, Sir, Please. Their performance, part of the festival’s Amplify (VIP) lineup, will feature a horn section of current students from the Jazz Studies program: Sam Shapiro (’21), Gray… Continue reading USC Thornton students to perform at KAABOO Festival
![Photo of Heesong Lee in concert attire conducting a choir.](https://music.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Heesong-Lee-150x150.jpg)
Heesong Lee places second in international choral competition
Heeseong Lee, a doctoral candidate in USC Thornton’s Choral & Sacred Music program, recently placed second in the 2019 World Choral Conducting Competition. The native of South Korea stood out in a field that included contestants from 29 countries. In addition to a cash prize, Lee also received the opportunity to study with choral conducting… Continue reading Heesong Lee places second in international choral competition
![Strauss Shi](https://music.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Strauss-Shi-150x150.jpg)
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… Continue reading Strauss Shi to solo with Pacific Symphony
![Hannah Abrahim](https://music.usc.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Hannah-Abrahim-150x150.jpg)
Three Music Industry Students win MBA scholarships
The Music Business Association recently awarded scholarships to three USC Thornton Music Industry students. Hannah Abrahim, Ugonnaya Chilaka and Chandler Lawn were selected based on their academic achievement and evidence of future potential to receive financial assistance through the Association’s Scholarship Foundation. Since 1966, these scholarships have assisted the children of Music Business Association members… Continue reading Three Music Industry Students win MBA scholarships