Musicologist Eric Davis highlights a newly discovered Ford Lee “Buck” Washington recording
USC Thornton Musicology doctoral candidate Eric Davis presented at the national meeting of the American Musicological Society in Louisville, Kentucky. He presented his paper on a recently discovered private recording of Ford Lee “Buck” Washington, who had originated the role of Jasbo Brown in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. The paper, entitled Buck Washington’s Blues: A… Continue reading Musicologist Eric Davis highlights a newly discovered Ford Lee “Buck” Washington recording
SMPTV alum Ramesh Kumar Kannan and faculty Bruce Broughton nominated for awards
A score by Ramesh Kumar Kannan (GCRT ’13), alumnus of the USC Thornton Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television (SMPTV) program, for the independent film Labyrinth, has been nominated for the Hollywood Music in Media awards. SMTPV faculty member Bruce Broughton was also nominated for the score for the series Texas Rising, which he co-wrote… Continue reading SMPTV alum Ramesh Kumar Kannan and faculty Bruce Broughton nominated for awards
Norman Krieger performs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Pianist Norman Krieger, of the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies faculty, recently performed as part of the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s UAB Piano Series, which was reviewed by ArtsBHAM as “a chance to hear a mature virtuoso in an intimate setting.” The review noted that “Krieger immediately captured the nature of [Beethoven’s] ‘The Tempest’ sonata… Continue reading Norman Krieger performs at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
Composer and alumnus Alan Chan awarded George Duke Commissioning Prize
USC Thornton Composition alumnus Alan Chan (DMA ’08) was selected as the recipient of George Duke Commissioning Prize, co-created by the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra and The ASCAP Foundation to honor the trailblazing musician, George Duke. Alan Chan’s music has been recognized with awards and fellowships from the American Composers Forum, New Music USA, and the… Continue reading Composer and alumnus Alan Chan awarded George Duke Commissioning Prize
Paul Young visits University of the Pacific for lectures and masterclasses
Paul Young, trombonist and director of the USC Thornton Music Industry Minors program, visited his alma mater, the University of the Pacific Conservatory of Music in Stockton, California, for a series of lectures and masterclasses this week. In addition to working with UOP students on brass technique, Young also contributed to an Artist Management class,… Continue reading Paul Young visits University of the Pacific for lectures and masterclasses
Bassist Will Cravy wins prize in Pasadena Showcase House competition
Double Bassist and current USC Thornton graduate student William Cravy (BM ‘14, MM ‘16) was awarded second prize and the accompanying $2,500 award in the 30th Annual Pasadena Showcase House Instrumental Competition. The competition was judged by members of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Cravy also has advanced to finals for the 2016 Jefferson International… Continue reading Bassist Will Cravy wins prize in Pasadena Showcase House competition
Singer-songwriter Peter Bradley Adams featured in Oklahoma concert
Singer-songwriter Peter Bradley Adams, a non-degreed USC Thornton alumnus, will be the featured performer at the Norman, Oklahoma, Winter Wind Concert this week. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Adams was drawn to Los Angeles in the mid-90s to study at USC Thornton’s famed Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television (SMPTV) program. He has since become… Continue reading Singer-songwriter Peter Bradley Adams featured in Oklahoma concert
Composition students and alums win orchestral competitions
USC Thornton Composition students and alumni continue to garner accolades. Two major Midwestern orchestras will feature compositions by USC students and alumni. “Even in Paradise,” by Patrick O’Malley (MM ’15, DMA candidate), and “Kaman Fantasy,” by Saad Haddad (BM, ’14), will be performed as part of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra’s Earshot program, under the baton… Continue reading Composition students and alums win orchestral competitions
Peter Esrkine featured on the cover of “JAZZed” magazine
“One of the most celebrated jazz drummers of the past half century,” Peter Erskine, USC Thornton Jazz Studies professor and director of Drumset Studies, was featured as the cover story for the October issue of JAZZed magazine, one of the premier resources for jazz educators and music education advocacy for the past decade. In the… Continue reading Peter Esrkine featured on the cover of “JAZZed” magazine
Ted Hearne’s oratorio, “The Source,“ released as album
Composer Ted Hearne, a faculty member of the USC Thornton Composition department, has released a new album of his oratorio, “The Source.” Built around short samples of spoken language, snippets of popular music, and disjointed instrumental riffs, the 2014 work examines the experience of US Army Private Chelsea Manning, who infamously leaked classified military documents… Continue reading Ted Hearne’s oratorio, “The Source,“ released as album