T.J. Tesh joins fellow trumpet alumnus in U.S. Naval Academy Band
Trumpeter and USC Thornton alumnus T.J. Tesh (DMA ’12) was recently awarded membership in the United States Naval Academy Band, a premiere, Washington D.C.-based military ensemble. Tesh will perform with the organization’s concert band, jazz ensemble, brass quintet, brass ensemble, and ceremonial units. Tesh also joins fellow Thornton alumnus Matt Harriman (DMA ’12, trumpet), who… Continue reading T.J. Tesh joins fellow trumpet alumnus in U.S. Naval Academy Band
Music education and choral alumni win professional awards
Several USC Thornton alumni have won significant awards in recent months. Dr. Lorna Zemke (MM ’68, DMA ’73, music education), formerly the Director of Graduate Music at Silver Lake College in Wisconsin, was awarded the International Katalin Forrai Award by the International Kodaly Society (IKS) for her contributions to Early Childhood Music Education. Fellow Music… Continue reading Music education and choral alumni win professional awards
Jazz alumnus featured guest on Jazz Access podcast
Trumpeter and USC Thornton Jazz Studies alumnus Walt Simonsen (MM ’06, DMA ’10) was a featured guest on the Jazz Access podcast, on which he talked about the experience of being a professional jazz musician in Los Angeles and reflected about his time at USC. Simonsen leads a trumpet quintet called Trumpetology, which will release… Continue reading Jazz alumnus featured guest on Jazz Access podcast
Jazz Studies faculty pay tribute to Jaco Pastorius at Hollywood Bowl
Several USC Thornton Jazz Studies faculty members performed on stage at the Hollywood Bowl on August 12, 2015, as part of a tribute to the late electric-bass legend, Jaco Pastorius. Among the many esteemed featured musicians were Peter Erskine, director of USC Thornton Drumset Studies, Bob Mintzer, chair of the Jazz Studies program, and saxophonist… Continue reading Jazz Studies faculty pay tribute to Jaco Pastorius at Hollywood Bowl
Todd Brabec
Todd Brabec, former Executive Vice President and Director of Worldwide Membership for ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), is the co-author (with his brother Jeff, Vice President of Business Affairs for Chrysalis Music Group) of the best selling music business book Music Money and Success: the Insiders Guide to Making Money in… Continue reading Todd Brabec
Jeffrey Brabec
Jeffrey Brabec is Vice President of Business Affairs for BMG Chrysalis, representing the catalogues of popular artists such as: OutKast, David Bowie, My Morning Jacket, Sheryl Crow, John Denver, Blondie, Paul Anka, Billy Idol, Jethro Tull, The Yeah Yeah Yeahs, A3 (“The Sopranos” theme), Dan Wilson, TV on the Radio, Ray LaMontagne, Danger Mouse, and… Continue reading Jeffrey Brabec
Alumni take positions with several American orchestras
Several USC Thornton alumni have been awarded orchestral positions. Percussion alumnus Tyler Stell (MM ’12, GCRT ’14) will join the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra as principal timpani, while fellow alumnus Matt Howard (BM ’12) will take a percussion position with the New World Symphony of Miami. Alumna Esther Armendariz (BM ’13, trombone) has won the position… Continue reading Alumni take positions with several American orchestras
Alan Smith premieres composition with Boston Symphony Orchestra
Alan Smith, chair of Keyboard Studies and director of the USC Thornton Keyboard Collaborative Arts program, recently premiered a new composition with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). “I’m Memorizing You,” a work for baritone, cello and piano, was commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the Tanglewood Music Center, the BSO’s summer performance venue, and premiered… Continue reading Alan Smith premieres composition with Boston Symphony Orchestra
Lynn Helding
Lynn Helding serves as Coordinator of Vocology & Voice Pedagogy and studio voice teacher in Vocal Arts at the USC Thornton School of Music. She is the author of The Musician’s Mind: Teaching, Learning & Performance in the Age of Brain Science, the chapter “Brain” in Your Voice: An Inside View 3 by Scott McCoy, and was recently named the new editor-in-chief of… Continue reading Lynn Helding
Richard Wolf
Richard “Wolfie” Wolf is an Emmy Award-winning composer, RIAA multi-platinum awarded music producer, teacher and author. Wolf worked on projects with Prince, Bell Biv DeVoe, Seal, Freddie Mercury, MC Lyte, Eazy-E and Coolio, and has contributed to the soundtracks for over 3000 films and television episodes ranging from twelve seasons of NCIS and The Sandman… Continue reading Richard Wolf