Greg Reitan alumni jazz trio reviewed in ArtsJournal
Jazz pianist and USC Thornton alumnus Greg Reitan (’96, composition) was reviewed on the ArtsJournal blog for his new album, Post No Bills, which features fellow alumni Jack Daro (BA ’93, MM ’99) on bass and Dean Koba (MM ’93) on drums. The album has been well-received by critics. Reitan studied composition at USC Thornton… Continue reading Greg Reitan alumni jazz trio reviewed in ArtsJournal
Vijay Venkatesh wins prize in Seattle piano competition
Vijay Venkatesh (BM ’17, piano performance), currently a student in the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies program under Norman Krieger, has won second prize in the Seattle Symphony Piano Competition, earning $5000 and the opportunity to perform in concert with the symphony. Venkatesh will next perform in a chamber music recital with clarinetist Micah Wright at… Continue reading Vijay Venkatesh wins prize in Seattle piano competition
Composition alum Roger Zare wins first prize for orchestral work
USC Thornton Composition alumnus Roger Zare (BM ’07) won first prize at the 3rd Senzoku Contemporary Composition Competition for his orchestral composition, Tectonics. The competition was hosted by the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music in Tokyo, Japan and Zare’s work was performed by the Senzoku New Philharmonic Orchestra.
Morten Lauridsen artist-in-residence at Arcosanti urban laboratory
Morten Lauridsen, Distinguished Professor of Composition at USC Thornton and National Medal of Arts winner, was the artist-in-residence at the Arcosanti urban laboratory in rural Arizona from Sep. 14-19. The residency culminated in a concert celebrating Lauridsen’s choral works, including his beloved “Lux Aeterna,” featuring Orpheus Male Chorus of Phoenix, the NAU Shrine of the… Continue reading Morten Lauridsen artist-in-residence at Arcosanti urban laboratory
Music Industry alum co-produces new dance single
USC Thornton Music Industry alumnus Maxwell Goldman (BS ’15) has co-written and co-produced a new single for British dance music artist Gareth Emery. “Hands” was a collaboration with musicians Alastor (Fis Shkreli) and London Thor and received a wide digital release last month. The track was performed by Gareth Emery at the closing ceremony of… Continue reading Music Industry alum co-produces new dance single
Evan Pensis shares sophisticated piano repertoire with prison audiences
Evan Pensis (BM ’16, piano), a fourth-year student in the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies program, has garnered press attention for his performances for prisoners at the Arizona State Prison in Florence, Arizona. The Florence Reminder & Blade Tribune profiled Pensis’ recent recital before an audience of 140 prisoners and guests, which included works by Stravinsky,… Continue reading Evan Pensis shares sophisticated piano repertoire with prison audiences
SMPTV student Jacques Brautbar receives ASCAP scholarship
Jacques Brautbar (BA ’15), currently a graduate student of the USC Thornton Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television (SMPTV) program, has been awarded the Betty Rose Scholarship in Film Scoring from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). This scholarship is awarded annually to a selected student in the ASCAP Foundation Composer-in-Residence Program… Continue reading SMPTV student Jacques Brautbar receives ASCAP scholarship
Extraordinary young organist begins studies at USC Thornton
Incoming USC Thornton freshman Organ Studies major Ethan Haman was the subject of a recent feature profile by the Los Altos Town Crier. The 17-year-old began serving as his church’s official organist three years ago and has since gone on to study with master organists in Europe. Haman’s Northern California community bid him farewell with… Continue reading Extraordinary young organist begins studies at USC Thornton
Alumnus Ben Pila to perform before Pope Francis at September 11 Memorial event
Classical guitarist and USC Thornton alumnus Ben Pila (DMA ’11) has been invited to perform for Pope Francis during the pontiff’s Sept. 25 visit to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. Pila has become a semi-regular presence at the memorial’s anniversary events, performing for dignitaries including Presidents Barack Obama and… Continue reading Alumnus Ben Pila to perform before Pope Francis at September 11 Memorial event
Guitar student Jason Lewis featured on NPR’s “From the Top”
USC Thornton Classical Guitar student Jason Lewis (BM ’19), was a featured performer on the June 28, 2015 episode of NPR’s From the Top with Host Christopher O’Riley. The 18 year-old guitarist and dual neuroscience/music major from Glencoe, Illinois, performed works by Leo Brouwer and Roland Dyens, for the show, which was recorded in Boston.… Continue reading Guitar student Jason Lewis featured on NPR’s “From the Top”