Student Accomplishments from the 2015-2016 Academic Year


Doctoral candidate Alin Melik-Adamyan shines at Centrum Chamber Music Workshop

October 2, 2015

Alin Melik-Adamyan (’12, MM ’14, piano), a doctoral candidate in USC Thornton’s Keyboard Collaborative Arts program, was one of two pianists invited to participate in the 2015 Chamber Music Workshop hosted by the Centrum Foundation in Port Townsend, Washington. Melik-Adamyan was nominated for the posting by Lucinda Carver, Vice Dean of Thornton’s Division of Classical… Continue reading Doctoral candidate Alin Melik-Adamyan shines at Centrum Chamber Music Workshop


Popular Music vocalist Malia Civetz performs with several orchestras

October 1, 2015

Malia Civetz, a senior in the USC Thornton Popular Music program, will perform as a vocal soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony in a special concert of composer Steven Hackman‘s symphonic mash-up, “Beethoven + Coldplay.” Civetz also performed the work with the Indianapolis Symphony in January and was featured in Hackman’s “Bartok + Bjork” piece at… Continue reading Popular Music vocalist Malia Civetz performs with several orchestras


Keyboard Collaborative Arts student HyeJung Shin performs in Austria and Japan

September 29, 2015

HyeJung Shin, currently a doctoral candidate in the USC Thornton Keyboard Collaborative Arts program under Alan Smith, attended the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria this past summer. The annual program is a highly competitive training ground for musicians, with performances, masterclasses, and intensive study. Shin also performed at the International Double… Continue reading Keyboard Collaborative Arts student HyeJung Shin performs in Austria and Japan


Student Emily Browne takes principal position with Spokane Symphony

September 25, 2015

USC Thornton masters student Emily Browne has won the position of Johnston-Fix Principal Chair, Horn, with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, under music director Eckart Preu. Browne currently studies with Kristy Morrell in the Winds and Percussion program.


Vijay Venkatesh wins prize in Seattle piano competition

September 23, 2015

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


Evan Pensis shares sophisticated piano repertoire with prison audiences

September 17, 2015

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

September 16, 2015

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

September 15, 2015

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


Guitar student Jason Lewis featured on NPR’s “From the Top”

September 11, 2015

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”


Michael Lee receives commission from New York Virtuoso Singers

September 8, 2015

Composer and USC Thornton Composition doctoral candidate Michael Lee has received a commission from the New York Virtuoso Singers to compose a work, which will be premiered in New York City this fall. The ensemble is regarded as the nation’s “leading exponent of contemporary choral music.” Lee’s works music have previously been performed by the… Continue reading Michael Lee receives commission from New York Virtuoso Singers