Jason King

Upon my appointment as Dean of the USC Thornton School of Music in 2023, the very first call I made in my new role was to Quincy Jones’ production company. I proposed a collaboration series and a broader partnership—an endeavor that felt both necessary and fitting. Quincy Jones, an unparalleled figure in the Los Angeles and global music scenes, embodied the highest standards of musical excellence and leadership across an extraordinary range of disciplines, genres, and styles. My sense was that he was well-positioned to be a profound aspirational model for the students of Thornton, representing the very ideals we seek to cultivate in artistry, innovation, and cross-disciplinary mastery.

Tonight’s concert emerged from that initial vision. I first pitched the idea to USC’s Visions and Voices as part of a year-long “Quincy Jones: Beyond Category” series, and when an opportunity in the orchestra’s regular programming arose—thanks to the generosity and vision of Carl St. Clair and Sharon Lavery—I seized the moment to try to bring this project to life. I engaged the Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective and had already reached out to former Thornton Dean and current Chair of the Conducting Program, Larry Livingston. As you’ll see in his program notes, Larry had worked with Quincy and knew him personally, making his involvement essential. It has been an honor to collaborate with Larry, knowing that his insight and leadership would be invaluable. Larry, in turn, recruited gifted DMA student Ennis Harris to oversee arrangements and orchestrations—a choice that proved to be both inspired and essential. And we collectively agreed that the superb Anthony Parnther was an ideal choice to guest conduct the program.

Recognizing the importance of showcasing Thornton’s breadth of talent, we worked closely with leaders from our jazz and popular music departments to identify exceptional students and student groups to perform and work alongside the orchestra, faculty, and guest artists. More than just a concert, this project was designed as a testament to the power of interdependent collaboration—an example of what is possible when disparate parts of the school unite as a singular force, an ecosystem greater than the sum of its parts. This is the kind of work that no other institution is prepared to do quite like USC Thornton School of Music.

Following Quincy Jones’ passing in November 2024, we shifted the program’s focus to devote the entire evening to his music. This brought challenges—rare and difficult-to-source scores, logistical hurdles, even disruptions caused by January 2025 wildfires—but every effort was made in the spirit of honoring his extraordinary legacy. Working alongside Larry and Ennis, we faced the daunting task of selecting from Quincy’s vast body of work, knowing that no single program could comprehensively capture his impact.

Instead, the goal was to illuminate key aspects of his genius—as a composer, arranger, and producer—through jazz, pop, classical works, and film scores. Tonight’s concert offers glimpses into his musicianship and brilliance, from lesser-known compositions like the score from The Boy in the Tree to the groundbreaking chart-topping collaborations that reshaped popular music.

Quincy Jones broke the mold—there will never be another like him. His influence is unlimited and immeasurable. It is an honor and a privilege to celebrate his legacy in this way, on what would have been his birthday, at this moment in time. May he rest in power.

Larry Livingston

I met Q in 1985 when I was Dean-Designate for the USC School of Music.  I invited Quincy and his then-wife Peggy Lipton to a USC football game. Throughout the ensuing forty years, he and I collaborated on a number of events and projects. The Thornton School Commencement Speaker in 1999, he subsequently was the recipient of the School’s Magnum Opus Award at our gala Dickens Dinner. When I arrived at USC as Dean in 1986, the jazz department was in its early days. Thanks in part to Q’s guidance and support, and the work of our superb faculty, the jazz program has since flourished. He met with our students from time to time, interacted with our faculty in a variety of music productions, and was a sage counsel to me as we grew Thornton from its origins as a classical music school to the richly diverse enterprise it is in its present form.

In 2007 he launched his Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium. Always keenly interested in promoting access to music for children, his consortium became an integral part of a national educational mission known as ALL IN. His history tells that Q spent much of his youth as a burglar committing crimes just to be able to survive. He found music while attempting to pull off a heist in a recreation center where he discovered a piano and started playing it. We talked through many long dinners about how important it was that young people know that jazz is core to our national heritage, and that they be able to get at music by design not by the vagaries of chance.

I could go on about the myriad ways Quincy was a force multiplier for music in all of its modalities for humankind but I close by sharing a deep and rare truth. Yes, Quincy was capable of the grand gesture and lived large. Yet, in the end he was a kind and genuine friend who brought to everyone he met only beauty and joy. And though a true celebrity, no amount of fame and glory could ever change him. For it was not his goal to become a star but rather to pull real stars from the sky to help his dreams come true.

Orchestra Department

Carl St. Clair, Artistic Leader and Principal Conductor
Sharon Lavery, Resident Conductor
Mike Basak, Orchestra Manager
Brent Anderson, Librarian
Sara Petty, Thornton Winds TA
Evelyn Webber, Orchestra Office Staff
Kaitlin Miller, Orchestra Office Staff
Lillian Young, Orchestra Office Staff
Maia Ruiz-Law, Orchestra Office Staff
Marcos Rivera, Orchestra Office Staff
Marcos Salgado, Orchestra Office Staff
Reese Romero, Orchestra Office Staff
Sean Cooney, Orchestra Office Staff
Abby Park, Orchestra Office Staff
Avery Robinson, Orchestra Office Staff
Sylvia Ettinger, Orchestra Office Staff

Anthony Parnther, guest conductor

American conductor Anthony Parnther is beginning his sixth season as Music Director of California’s San Bernardino Symphony Orchestra. As conductor of the Gateways Music Festival Orchestra, whose members hail from leading orchestras nationwide, it was Parnther who led its sold-out Carnegie Hall debut, showcasing the world premiere of I Can by five-time Grammy-winner Jon Batiste. A master of multiple genres, Parnther has conducted many of the world’s preeminent artists, from Joshua Bell, Lynn Harrell, Jessye Norman, and Frederica von Stade to Imagine Dragons, Wu-Tang Clan, John Legend, Metro Boomin, Avenged Sevenfold, and Rihanna. The L.A. Times hailed Anthony as “The quintessential L.A. musician of our day.” Parnther’s recent conducting engagements include the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, National Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony, Houston Symphony, St. Louis Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Vancouver Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Music Academy of the West, Sydney Symphony in Australia, and the Chineke! Orchestra, with whom he debuted at the BBC Proms. Dedicated to amplifying traditionally underrepresented voices, Parnther has reconstructed and performed orchestral works by Margaret Bonds, Duke Ellington, Zenobia Powell Perry, Florence Price, William Grant Still, and Samuel Coleridge-Taylor. As well as leading LA Opera’s world premiere of Tamar-kali Brown’s oratorio We Hold These Truths and Long Beach Opera’s revival of Anthony Davis’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Central Park Five, Parnther has premiered and recorded works by Jon Batiste, Kris Bowers, Chanda Dancy, Philip Herbert, Daniel Kidane, George Lewis, James Newton, George Walker, and Errollyn Wallen. For his extensive championing of works by Black, Latino, and women composers, Parnther was profiled as a “Local Hero” by Los Angeles’s KCET/TV. As one of today’s foremost film conductors, Parnther helms recording sessions for many of the world’s top international feature films and television series, working in close collaboration with some of the most decorated media composers in the industry. On the scoring stages of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Nashville, Budapest, Glasgow, and London, he has led the scoring sessions for projects like the Oscar-winning score for Oppenheimer, Grammy-winning Encanto, Emmy-winning The Mandalorian, Avatar: The Way of Water,  Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Diaries of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules, Ice Age: Adventures of Buck Wild, Creed III, PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie, and League of Legends.

Andy Abad, guitar

Versatile guitarist and Latin GRAMMY-nominated producer Andy Abad is known for his mastery of a wide spectrum of genres including pop, rock, and latin. Currently Abad is fronting his own band, The Blue Agave, while also serving as guitarist for Jennifer Lopez. He has toured with artists such as Marc Anthony, The Backstreet Boys, Josh Groban and Clay Aiken. His work can be heard on Lady Gaga’s album “Born This Way,” Bonnie Raitt’s “Silver Lining” and Marc Anthony’s “Libre” among countless others. In 2012 Abad arranged the song “Somethin’s Rattling” for Benjamin Gibbard (Death Cab For Cutie) and served as musical director/guitarist for Ben’s solo performance on the Conan O’Brien Show. His credits with Latin artists include Juan Gabriel, Pepe Aguilar, Joan Sebastian, and Paulina Rubio. As a composer he has written featured songs for Nickelodeon’s hit franchise “Dora The Explorer” and “Go Diego Go.” His music can also be heard on “Oprah,” “the Ellen Degeneres Show,” and “One Tree Hill.” Andy Abad holds a masters degree from the USC Thornton School of Music, where he is currently on faculty at the groundbreaking Popular Music program.

Derrick Lawrence, vocals – baritone

Derrick Lawrence has sung roles on the stages of Philadelphia Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Dallas Opera, Charlotte Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Piedmont Opera, Opera North, Zurich Opera House, Budapest, Wiesbaden, Düsseldorf, The Royal Danish Opera, Stuttgart, Luzern, Aachen, Freiburg, Statts Opera Berlin, Kaiserslautern, La Monnaie, Teatro Massimo, Opera Lyon and National Theater Brünn. Lawrence has over 80 roles in his repertoire, from Mozart’s Figaro to Wagner’s Wotan, Verdi’s Macbeth to Puccini’s Scarpia. He has performed at festivals such as Edinburgh Festival, Blossom Festival, Baden Baden Festival, Chaliapin Festival Russia, Mainau, Mozarteum Brasileiro and Luzern. Lawrence has sung in concert halls worldwide, including Concert Gebouw Amsterdam, Concert House Munich, Kurhaus Wiesbaden, Avery Fisher Hall, Carnegie Hall and Saalbau Essen, with great orchestras such as Saint Louis Symphony, Nürnberg, SWR Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Munich Symphony Orchestra, Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Warsaw and American Symphony Orchestra, to name a few. Lawrence received his musical education at the North Carolina School of the Arts, the renowned Juilliard School and the Curtis Institute of Music. He has been a prize winner in numerous international singing contests, rewarded with the Grace Bumbry Award, Mario Lanza Award, George London Award and Sullivan Foundation Award. He has also received the Richard Tucker Jacobson Study Grant and the 2006 Zelt Prize for Outstanding Classical Artists. In 1991, he won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Doug Petty, keys

Doug Petty is a pianist, arranger and composer living in Los Angeles. A top call session player, he has recorded and performed with many of today’s biggest artists including Rihanna, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Enrique Iglesias, Tears for Fears, Roseanne Cash, Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, Westlife and the Backstreet Boys to name just a few. He has also been featured on the soundtracks of many successful movies scores including Call of the Wild, Moonrise Kingdom, The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Happy Feet, Hancock, Horton Hears a Who, Mr. and Mrs. Smith and many others. He is currently the keyboard player with the internationally acclaimed, multi-platinum selling group Tears For Fears, and he was the musical director for recording artist and actress Katharine McPhee for over ten years. Doug’s signature sound and vision has been instrumental in producing and arranging records for numerous artists including Grammy Award-winning singer songwriter Shawn Colvin (“Holiday songs and Lullabies”/ Sony, “The Starlighter” Amazon) as well as recent records from Tony Award-winning artist Audra McDonald (“Build A Bridge” and “Go Back Home”/ Nonesuch). Additionally on the Nonesuch label he produced the album “Folk Songs” for the Kronos Quartet that features Natalie Merchant, Rhiannon Giddens, Sam Amidon and Olivia Chaney. As a composer Doug has written themes for a number of popular shows on the Disney channel including “Amphibia” and “101 Dalmatian Street.” His music for trailers can be heard on releases such as “Black or White,” Best of Me” and “Black Mass” among others. Additionally he has done many custom campaigns for companies such as FOX TV, Method, Alaska Airlines, Starbucks, Disney and Disney XD. Working with Katharine McPhee, he created arrangements for her performances with symphony orchestra and his arrangements have been performed all over the country by Boston Pops, The Pacific Symphony, the San Diego Symphony and The Cincinnati Symphony. In 2007, he created custom orchestral arrangements for Rihanna for her breakout performance on the American Music Awards and in 2010, arranged “America The Beautiful” for Audra McDonald’s performance at the BCS National Championship Game. Additionally, his arrangements as well as his keyboard playing and programming, have been featured extensively in the work of Hong Kong artist GEM, currently one of the most popular artists in both Hong Kong and China. Doug graduated from the esteemed music conservatory Eastman School of Music where he studied piano performance, orchestration and arranging. In addition to his busy recording and performing career, Doug is on faculty at the USC Thornton School of Music in the Music Technology and Popular Music Program.

Ennis Harris, arranger, saxophone

Ennis Harris is composer, arranger, saxophonist, and flutist from Exeter, California. His music seeks to blur genre and cultural boundaries through musical storytelling. He is currently based in Los Angeles.

As a composer, Ennis enjoys writing for various settings.

He is a 2024 recipient of the BMI Composer Award for his Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra, entitled Adarna. That year, Ennis also received 1st prize in the Van Alexander Arranging Competition presented by ASMAC, for his Piazzolla-Tango inspired arrangement of Duke Ellington’s “The Lake”.

He was the 2023 recipient of the “Jeff Clayton New Note Commission Award” by the Los Angeles Jazz Society. For this Ennis wrote Images and Silhouettes, a 23 minute large-scale work for 19-piece Jazz Chamber Ensemble. The piece was premiered at the Angel City Jazz Festival.

Earlier that year, he won the International Society of Jazz Arrangers and Composers (ISJAC)/USF “Prize For Emerging Black Composers” for his piece Eye In The Sky written for Big Band. In 2022, his piece Portrait Poem, written for Chamber Orchestra and Jazz Septet, won the Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award. He has also been commissioned by theBABAorchestra, who premiered his piece Ruggell in the fall of that year.

As a saxophonist and flutist, Ennis has performed with artists such as The Jon Hatamiya Sextet, The Jon Hatamiya Big Band, The Bill Holman Big Band, Pete Escovedo, The 7Teen Big Band, and Sammy Miller and The Congregation. In 2023, Ennis performed with Red Bull Symphonic and acclaimed producer Metro Boomin, led under the baton of maestro Anthony Parnther. He has also been a featured soloist with the San Bernadino Symphony.

Ennis has received his B.A. in Global Jazz Studies from UCLA, and an M.M. in Jazz Performance from the University of Southern California. He is continuing at the University of Southern California where he serves as a teaching assistant while pursuing his DMA.

Greg Phillinganes, piano, keys

Greg Phillinganes is one of the world’s most sought after keyboard artists. A Detroit native and music veteran for over 40 years, he began his career in 1975 with Stevie Wonder as part of his band, Wonderlove. Since leaving Stevie in 1979, Phillinganes went on to record, perform, tour and or write with a staggering array of GRAMMY Award winning artists. A short list includes Quincy Jones, Eric Clapton, Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, Barbra Streisand, Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond, Andrea Bocelli, Herbie Hancock, Mick Jagger, Babyface, David Gilmour, John Mayer, Garth Brooks, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Steven Tyler, Jennifer Hudson, Lionel Richie, Bruno Mars, Santana and Paul McCartney. Greg is an ASCAP Pop Award Winner for the song “Love Will Conquer All,” which he co-wrote with Lionel Richie. Phillinganes was the music director for Richie’s “Can’t Slow Down” tour- his first as a solo artist- as well as Michael Jackson’s “Bad” and “Dangerous” tours. Greg was also music director for the Jacksons’ 30th Anniversary special at Madison Square Garden, Quincy Jones’ “VIBE” tv show, The 60th EMMY Awards and the first Annual GRAMMY Nominations Live Concert, along with a wide range of special events including the 1999 Super Bowl Halftime show and MUSICARES’ “Person of the Year” event– both honoring Stevie Wonder. In 1991, Greg toured asia with Eric Clapton and George Harrison. In 2004, Phillinganes was music director for Quincy Jones’ “We Are The Future” globally televised celebration in Rome, featuring artists from the US, Europe and the Middle East. A GRAMMY nominee himself, Greg has been a cornerstone in hundreds of GRAMMY Award winning & nominated albums, including Stevie Wonder’s “Songs In The Key Of Life,” Quincy jones’ “Back On The Block” and Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Phillinganes was also a member of the GRAMMY Award winning supergroup Toto from 2003 to 2008 and is featured on their album and live concert DVD entitled “Falling In Between.” As an event producer, Greg’s credits include the Society of Singers’ Tributes to Elton John and Natalie Cole, The Michael Jordan Classic Golf Invitational, the US Doctors For Africa “Leadership For Health” Gala featuring 16 First Ladies of African Nations and Quincy Jones’ 75th Birthday Celebration filmed live in Montreux, Switzerland. He was also a producer and music director for a stunning multi artist tribute to Bill Withers at Carnegie Hall. This extraordinary event also recreated his iconic “Live At Carnegie Hall” album in its entirety. Phillinganes was featured vocally as well as a sideman with Jazz icon Herbie Hancock on his “Imagine Project” Tour 2010-2011. Greg was also the Music Director for the 2011 Grammy Awards, the “In Performance At The White House” Celebration of Motown and Oprah’s Final “Surprise Spectacular” shows. He also completed an 18 month stint as music director for the Cirque du Soleil/Michael Jackson Immortal World Tour, a second “In Performance At The White House” event honoring “Women Of Soul” as well one of the ‘Ultimate sidemen’ joining Ringo Starr for the 2014 Grammys and the CBS special, “The Beatles: The Night That Changed America.” In 2014 and ‘15, Greg was Music Director for Stevie Wonder’s exclusive “Songs In The Key Of Life – The Performance” Tour and won his first EMMY Award for the CBS TV GRAMMY Salute of the same name. Phillinganes was also music director for the televised Tribute to John Lennon, featuring artists ranging from steven Tyler and Sheryl Crow to Willie Nelson and Chris Stapleton. 2016 began with Greg as Music Director for the 58th Grammy Awards featuring an all star tribute to Lionel Richie, followed by the Gershwin Prize/Library Of Congress Tribute to Smokey Robinson. Later that year, Phillinganes joined David Gilmour for a European tour of a lifetime on his “Rattle That Lock” tour, playing legendary venues such as London’s Royal Albert Hall and the Colosseum of Pompei, where the spectacular “Live At Pompei” DVD was filmed. The highlight of 2018 featured Phillinganes as MD for the BET special, “Q85: A Musical Celebration of Quincy Jones.” In 2019, Greg served as MD for another MUSICARES’ “Person of the Year” event, honoring Dolly Parton, as well as Opening New York’s “The Shed” venue with the unprecedented “Soundtrack Of America” concert series featuring young, cutting edge artists paying tribute to their musical heroes. 2020: a year like NO OTHER began with a flurry of events for Phillinganes as Music Director: Yet another MUSICARES’ “Person of the Year” event honoring AEROSMITH. Arranging/Producing “America The Beautiful” for Yolanda Adams’ performance at the Super Bowl. Another Library Of Congress/Gershwin Prize honoring Garth Brooks on PBS. The non televised “Keep Memory Alive” event honoring Neil Diamond featuring an exclusive mini concert-the final live performance of his career. A GRAMMY SALUTE TO LEGENDS tv special presenting Grammy lifetime achievement awards to a stellar array of artists including Chicago, Isaac Hayes and Roberta Flack. Most recently, Greg can be found on the new John Mayer album, “Sob Rock.”

John “JR” Robinson, drums

From a small Iowa town to the pinnacle of global music, GRAMMY® winner John J.R. Robinson has etched his name in the annals of musical history as a drummer extraordinaire. His six-decade journey represents more than just a career—it’s a testament to passion, perseverance, and unparalleled musical genius. Robinson’s drumming prowess has defined generations of music, with his iconic contributions spanning pop, R&B, and jazz. His legendary drum fill in Michael Jackson’s “Rock With You” which is and will always be an essential piece of pop music lore and the unforgettable intro to Steve Winwood’s No. 1 hit, “Higher Love” are not just musical moments, but cultural touchstones that have shaped the soundtrack of multiple generations. The numbers behind Robinson’s career are staggering. With over 6,000 recording sessions, 500 movie and television soundtracks, and contributions to 30 No. 1 hit records, he has become the most recorded drummer in music history. His incredible journey includes playing on over 200 US Billboard Hot 100 songs and participating in albums that have sold more than half a billion units. Notably, he has been instrumental in over 50 GRAMMY® winning records, earning him a permanent place in Rolling Stone’s “Top 100 Drummers of All Time”. Robinson’s collaborative roster reads like a who’s who of musical royalty. He has worked alongside legends including Quincy Jones, Ray Charles, Michael Jackson, Rufus and Chaka Khan, Lady Gaga, Peter Frampton, George Benson, Stevie Wonder, Elton John, George Duke, Stanley Clarke, Daft Punk, Madonna, Lionel Richie, The Pointer Sisters, Stevie Nicks, Diana Ross, Whitney Houston, David Foster, Steve Winwood, John Fogerty, David Lee Roth, Herbie Hancock, Toby Keith, Clint Black, Eric Clapton, Brothers Johnson, Marvin Hamlisch, and Barbra Streisand, plus a dictionary-sized list of other legendary musicians and music leaders. His ability to adapt and bring unique groove to every project has made him a sought-after musician across diverse genres. Beyond his musical achievements, Robinson has expanded his impact through literary pursuits. His book, “KING of the GROOVE – How One Dream Transformed into 60 Years of Making Legendary Music”, offers an intimate look into the music industry’s inner workings. With a foreword by Quincy Jones and contributions from over 60 A-list musicians, the book is a powerful narrative of perseverance and artistic vision. As CEO of 4th Quarter Press Publishing, Robinson continues to empower accomplished individuals, helping them transform their life experiences into compelling narratives. This endeavor reflects his commitment to storytelling and inspiring others to pursue their dreams. John J.R. Robinson’s journey embodies the essence of musical excellence—a story of talent, hard work, and an unwavering belief in one’s potential. From a five-year-old with a dream to a globally recognized musical icon, his life is a powerful reminder that true passion knows no boundaries.

Ledisi, vocals

Ledisi, a Grammy Award-winning artist hailed as one of the most captivating vocalists of her generation, is a force to be reckoned with in the music industry. Over the course of her career, Ledisi has continually pushed boundaries and redefined the soul and R&B genres with her electrifying performances and powerful storytelling. Born in New Orleans and raised in Oakland, Ledisi’s journey to stardom is a testament to her unwavering passion and dedication to her craft. From her early beginnings performing in local clubs to gracing the world’s most prestigious stages, including a sold-out performance at Carnegie Hall, Ledisi has captivated audiences with her soul-stirring voice and magnetic stage presence. Ledisi’s remarkable talent has earned her critical acclaim and numerous accolades throughout her career. With 15 Grammy nominations, including a win for Best Traditional R&B Performance for “Anything for You,” her impact on the music industry is undeniable. Her chart-topping singles, including “ I Need To Know, Pieces of Me and Alright,” have solidified her status as a trailblazer in contemporary soul music. Ledisi’s commitment to artistic excellence extends beyond the music industry. As an actress, author, and advocate, Ledisi has used her platform to uplift and inspire others. Her notable film roles in “Leatherheads” and “Spinning Gold,” along with her acclaimed portrayals of Mahalia Jackson in “Remember Me” and “Selma,” have showcased her versatility and talent. In addition to her artistic endeavors, Ledisi has advocated many times on Capitol Hill for the rights of writers and performers. In 2023, Ledisi was inducted into Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., served as past president of the LA Chapter, and is currently a Trustee of the Recording Academy. Ledisi has also been bestowed the honor of garnering an honorary Doctorate Degree from Berklee School of Music at their 2024 Commencement, which further solidifies her influence and impact in the entertainment industry.

Lionna Romans, vocals

Lionna Romans is an artist whose dynamic sound blends influences from rock, pop, country, and R&B. With a background in acting and musical theatre, she seamlessly integrates her performance training into her music. Lionna’s sultry vocals have earned her recognition as an award-winning singer with the YoungArts Foundation honor for exceptional performance in popular music. A proud native New Yorker, Lionna’s journey has been shaped by the vibrant culture and energy of the city. She has had the honor of performing at the legendary Apollo Theater, as well as singing alongside acclaimed vocalists Josh Groban and Dionne Warwick. As a session singer, she is credited on rising band Laundry Day’s fifth album, Younger Than I Was Before. Currently, Lionna is focused on the release of her debut solo EP, set for late 2025. A proud alumna of the prestigious LaGuardia School of the Arts’ drama program, she continues her education at USC Thornton’s Popular Music program, where she refines her craft and prepares for the next phase of her career. With Broadway aspirations at heart, she is dedicated to growing both as an actor and a musician, aiming to make her mark on the world of entertainment. You can find her on all platforms @LionnaTheBand.

Seth Parker Woods, cello

Three-time GRAMMY®-nominated cellist Seth Parker Woods has established his reputation as a versatile artist and innovator across multiple genres, prompting the The New York Times to write, “Woods is an artist rooted in classical music, but whose cello is a vehicle that takes him, and his concertgoers, on wide-ranging journeys.” Woods has served on the faculty of the Thornton School of Music at The University of Southern California since 2022 and was appointed to the Robert Mann Chair in Strings and Chamber Music in 2024. Among the highlights of his 2024-2025 season, Woods performs in the world premiere of Nathalie Joachim’s new cello concerto, Had to Be, at Spoleto Festival USA, later performing its New York premiere in his debut with the New York Philharmonic. He makes his Los Angeles Philharmonic debut in the world premiere of a new cello concerto by Julia Adolphe. A core member of the music collective Wild Up, Woods is featured as soloist in the group’s Eastman Vol. 4: The Holy Presence, released June 2024 on New Amsterdam Records, and was nominated alongside the group for 2023 and 2025 GRAMMY® Awards. During the 2023-2024 season, Woods brought his GRAMMY®-nominated, autobiographical tour-de-force Difficult Grace to San Diego and Philadelphia, following the world premiere at 92NY and performances at UCLA and Chicago’s Harris Theater. Difficult Grace was released as an album on Cedille Records in 2023 and nominated for the 2024 GRAMMY® Award for Best Classical Instrumental Solo. Highlights of last season include performances with Hilary Hahn at Konzerthaus Dortmund in Germany and touring a new version of John Adams’ El Niño: Nativity Reconsidered with American Modern Opera Company (AMOC).

Stevie Mackey, vocals

Stevie Mackey is an artist, singer and celebrity vocal coach from Los Angeles, California. He is highly sought-after and has worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Coldplay, Jennifer Lopez, Selena Gomez, Lenny Kravitz, Kelly Rowland, Boyz II Men and many others. He most famously was a vocal coach on NBC’s “The Voice” for over 10 seasons. His debut album, “The Most Wonderful Time” released in November 2020 to critical acclaim, achieving 10 million streams in 5 weeks. Stevie is also the creator and host of the hit music showcase, “Taco Tuesdays Live,” which has become a staple in the LA music scene and recognized across the globe. With his powerful and soulful voice, Stevie is a dynamic performer and a devoted philosopher of music.

Yafeu Tyhimba, bass, vocals

Yafeu Tyhimba is an acclaimed bassist, vocalist, and award-winning composer. He has performed with Theo Kroker, Jeff Lorber, Tony Austin, Nick Smith, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Donald Dean, John Legend, Jennifer Hudson, Heather Headley and Brian Hargrove. He has been personally mentored by Patrice Rushen, Bennie Maupin, and Ndugu Chancler. As a studio musician, Yafeu has performed at the Hollywood Bowl as part of the 30th Anniversary of Tony Award-Winning Disney musical The Lion King, appeared in major Hollywood films such as The Joker: Folie à Deux, and has performed in studio orchestras for Netflix television shows. Last year he was commissioned as a composer by the LA Jazz Society. This semester he will receive his Doctorate of Jazz Studies at the University of Southern California’s Thornton School of Music.

LOCKED, vocals

A new vocal group based in Los Angeles composed of four singers from completely different musical backgrounds, who come together to create one unique blend. With stripped down takes of your favorite pop songs featuring lush harmony, they have locked in audiences worldwide to their sound. LOCKED features Maddi Lasker, Yohanna Bauerdorf, Mateo Gonzales, and Raymond Ortiz, who met while singing together in their collegiate a cappella group, the SoCal VoCals. As session vocalists, songwriters, and award-winning arrangers, all members studied or currently study at the USC Thornton School of Music, pursuing degrees such as Popular Music and Jazz Studies. Within one month of creating Locked, they have garnered millions of viewers across TikTok and Instagram, allowing them to share their arrangements and vocals on a larger scale. Driven by their tight friendship and passion for music, LOCKED has the vocals you’ve been looking for. TikTok, Instagram, Youtube: @lockedvox

USC Thornton Jazz Honors Combo

The USC Thornton Jazz Honors Combo is Thornton’s premier small jazz ensemble, currently directed by jazz trombone faculty Jon Hatamiya. The ensemble is known for pushing the boundaries of jazz music and often blurring the lines between small group jazz music and other genres, as well as for the high level of improvisation and composition from its members. With a different lineup every year,this year’s group has performances with guest artists such as Blue Note recording artists Paul Cornish and Gerald Clayton, and Yellowjackets drummer Will Kennedy, and has also made multiple outreach appearances around Los Angeles high schools.

Jason King, co-producer

The Dean of the USC Thornton School of Music, Jason King is a multi-talented scholar, journalist, author, musician, performer, producer, songwriter, radio and video host and event curator. Before his appointment at USC, King was chair of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at Tisch School of the Arts New York University, where he also served as a James Weldon Johnson Associate Professor. He was the Institute’s founding full-time faculty member, working alongside music impresario Clive Davis to help develop the program. He served as the Institute’s first Associate Chair (2003-2006); the Institute’s first and only Artistic Director (2006-2012); and the Institute’s Director of Writing, History and Emergent Media (2003-2020). He was the Institute’s inaugural Director of Global Studies, developing and program curating the international study abroad program Clive Davis Institute x Berlin: Future Pop Music Studies in Germany and the Institute’s J-Term course in Havana. With early personal roots in classical piano and musical theater training, King’s musical interests and accomplishments are broad, spanning pop, R&B, gospel, jazz, rock and other styles. As a scholar and public intellectual with a PhD from his NYU alma mater, his multi-disciplinary work includes African-American and African Diasporic cultural studies; performance studies, globalization and transnationalism studies; media and technology studies; music business, marketing and branding studies; and gender and queer studies. In his capacity as a professor at New York University, King taught classes for more than two decades on popular music history and geography, identity and cultural politics, artist development/A&R and music marketing/branding, and the social aspects of music technology. Among the courses he has taught: Artist Development, A&R and Personal Branding; Conversations with Technology Entrepreneurs; Immersive Experiences; Worldmaking and Ethics: Transforming the Music Industry Through Social Justice Leadership, Activism and Organizing; Failure; The Record Producer as Creative Artist; Music Recommendation and Discovery; Freddie Mercury; R&B; and Hip Hop: History, Music and Culture. He taught the inaugural class at the NYU Abu Dhabi campus in the United Arab Emirates, and he returned as affiliated faculty to teach classes in global music production and technology at NYU Abu Dhabi for four years. King also taught post graduate studies in Producing Transnational Media Ventures for the MFA program in International Media Producing at Tisch School of the Arts Asia in Singapore. In his leadership capacities, he developed a number of the Clive Davis Institute’s signature programs, including its free high-school pipeline program Future Music Moguls and its unique Professional Development initiatives. King brought numerous guests to NYU’s Tisch School, from Pharrell Williams to 100 gecs, De La Soul to Blood Orange, Nile Rodgers to Jamila Woods and Q-Tip to Alicia Keys. He produced or co-produced many events: from a 2022 weeklong artist residency with R&B and electronic music innovator Dawn Richard to the Club Classics Live! concert extravaganza at Central Park Summerstage featuring Sam Sparro and Ultra Naté; to a Sylvester concert tribute at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts with Mykal Kilgore and Inaya Day; the 2012 Pop Conference with Esperanza Spalding, ?uestlove of The Roots, Angelique Kidjo and Santigold and a two-day “The Making of Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions” with Chuck D and Hank Shocklee; to “Sylvester: The Life and Work of a Musical Icon” (produced with Carolyn Dinshaw and José Esteban Muñoz) with Martha Wash and Kevin Aviance; “The Making of Planet Rock” with Arthur Baker and Fab 5 Freddy for a two-week hip-hop festival; and Motown’s 50 anniversary series with guests like the late Leon Ware and Raphael Saadiq. In most cases, he also served as music supervisor and orchestrator for concerts associated with those events. As the host and keynote producer of the annual Pop Conference for the past several years, he has recruited musical superstars like Steve Perry, Alanis Morrissette, Dua Lipa, Youssou N’Dour, Arooj Aftab, Rostam, Roisin Murphy and Lido PImienta to take part in the conference. King has published numerous scholarly essays; he recently wrote about Beyoncé and Jay Z’s “Apesh*t” video for the Journal of Popular Music, and on the politics of Drake’s “Toosie Slide” for the Het Nieuwe Instituut’s For the Record video series. He has been a longtime music journalist and internationally recognized cultural critic for publications like Pitchfork, Slate, Red Bull Music Academy, Vibe, The Village Voice, The Los Angeles Times, Spin, Billboard, BuzzFeed, Quartz, The Root and Vice. He has also been a contributing member of the NPR Music Team. Besides writing for NPR Music, he was the host and co-producer of NPR’s flagship video documentary series Noteworthy, on the creative process of music superstars. Season One featured interviews with Alicia Keys, Maxwell, Miguel, Banks and Anthony Hamilton. For that series, he championed then-emerging artist Dua Lipa, co-producing a documentary on her music that became her first ever U.S. media interview and helped launch her as a global superstar. King was the curator and host of NPR’s 24/7 streaming radio channel dedicated to soul and R&B music called “NPRandB,” and worked on R&B video programs with Babyface, King, Jazmine Sullivan, Ledisi; and he produced and hosted the 2020 series Pop Talks, an NPR pop-up interview series featuring artists like Dua Lipa, Moses Sumney, Holly Herndon, and Victoria Monet. He was the host of CNN’s original podcast series Soundtracks: The B-Sides. Some of his favorite interviews include Pharrell Williams, Devonté Hynes, Kelela, Nick Jonas, Mary J. Blige, as well as George Clinton for NPR Music and Harry Belafonte for Apple’s Meet the Musician series. King served as a guest curator for Vevo, a consultant for Spotify, and he has served on the boards of several technology start-ups. As creative director of his own entertainment company Superlatude, Jason King has consulted for record labels, branding and marketing firms; and he has served as a music marketing and branding expert in high-profile cases for artists like Drake and Jay Z, as well as Katy Perry, Timbaland, Madonna, Lady Gaga, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre and more. He has also been artist manager/strategist for international major label and indie label artists (Jimmy Edgar, The Craig Lewis Band), and he was the music supervisor, live event and concert producer and musical arranger for Indian cult pop star Asha Puthli. He was also the founder/driving force behind innovative New York based dance music superband Company Freak, featuring original lead singers of Chic Norma Jean Wright and Alfa Anderson and Hubert Eaves of D-Train. The band’s first EP, Le Disco Social, was remixed by DJ Spen, Justin Faust, Eric Kupper, Jodie Harsh, Opolopo and many others. Other studio productions: “Hold On (He’ll Be Right There)” for soul music icon Sarah Dash of Labelle; executive producer of Selan’s Space Flight album, featuring special guests Nile Rodgers, Emily King and M1 from Dead Prez. He is the author of The Michael Jackson Treasures, a Barnes and Noble exclusive biography on the King of Pop, which has been translated in more than seven languages. His blog entry “Michael Jackson: An Appreciation of His Talent” appears in the Da Capo Press Best Music Writing 2010 compilation, edited by Ann Powers. King wrote the liner notes for a Luther Vandross compilation for Sony Music, and for the vinyl exclusive reissue of D’Angelo’s Voodoo for Light in the Attic/Sony. He appears in many music documentaries, including Garrett Price’s Yacht Rock: A Dockumentary, Netflix’s This is Pop series, and ReMastered: The Two Killings of Sam Cooke, as well as two Spike Lee documentaries, Bad 25 and Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown to Off the Wall.He stars in Henry Louis Gates’ 2022 series Making Black America and he was a series regular on two CNN series: Soundtracks, produced by Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, and CNN’s American Style. He was the series consultant on the Grammy and Emmy nominated eight-part PBS series on the history of popular music called Soundbreaking, in which he also appears. Jason King was the host, co-writer and executive producer of Spotify’s 2022 Sound Barrier podcast; season one focused on the life and times of disco superstar Sylvester. In 2021, The Beatles’ company Apple Corps commissioned King to write A Shot of Rhythm and Blues, a four-part investigative radio series on The Beatles and Black music. It was hosted by Meshell Ndegeocello and lives on the Beatles’ Sirius radio channel. King is currently delving into directing and producing his own documentaries, and he was consulting producer on Morgan Neville’s 2024 Pharrell Williams LEGO film Piece by Piece. He is also an inaugural member of the Hip-Hop council at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, the Black Genius Brain Trust, and he serves on the advisory board of the Journal of Popular Music Studies.

Larry Livingston, co-producer

Larry Livingston is a distinguished conductor, educator, and administrator, and a highly respected motivational speaker. The founding Music Director of the Illinois Chamber Orchestra, Livingston has appeared with the Houston Symphony and in the Los Angeles Philharmonic Green Umbrella Series. He has conducted at the Festival de Musique in Evian, France, and has led the Stockholm Wind Orchestra, as well as the Leopoldinum Chamber, Chopin Academy, and Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestras in Poland. He served as Music Director of the Pan Pacific Festival Orchestras in Sydney, participated in the International Jazz Festival in Rome, and conducted electro-acoustic ensemble concerts in Tokyo under the auspices of Yamaha International. Mr. Livingston has led the Houston Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic Green Umbrellas Series, the American Youth Symphony Orchestra, the Young Musicians Foundation Orchestra, the USC Thornton Chamber and Symphony Orchestras in Los Angeles, the USC Thornton Contemporary Music Ensemble in Berlin, and served on the jury for the renowned Besancon International Conducting Competition in Besancon, France. Mr. Livingston has performed with soloists Keiko Abe, Ran Blake, Shelly Berg, Maureen Forrester, Adolph Herseth, Lawrence Lesser, Yehudi Menuhin, Robert Merrill, Mark O’Connor, Christopher O’Riley, Itzhak Perlman, Donald Sinta, Ralph Kirshbaum, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, John Walz and Time for Three, and has premiered and/or recorded works by Shelton Berg, Paul Cooper, Mario Davidovsky, Robert Erickson, Ernst Krenek, Kasia Livingston, Edwin London, Pauline Oliveros, Russell Peck, Roger Reynolds, and Yuji Takahashi. Mr. Livingston frequently appears with professional, festival, collegiate, and all-state wind ensembles, bands and orchestras throughout the United States, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. From 1983 to 2002, he served as a conductor in the University of Michigan All-State Program at Interlochen, has been the Conductor of the Festival Orchestra at Idyllwild Arts since 1989, and is the Music Director of Music for All’s National Honors Orchestra. From 1997 to 2001, Mr. Livingston regularly toured Germany and Slovakia with the Internationale Junge Orchesterakademie. The performances and subsequent recordings were “the most successful in this organization’s history,” according to its director. In the last decade, he has conducted extensively in Eastern Europe, and particularly throughout Poland, leading orchestras in Warsaw, Wroclaw, Jelenia Gora, Bialystok, and Katowice, attracting consistent critical acclaim. Reviews described “long, unending applause, enthusiastic cheers, like at a rock concert, standing ovation.” Mr. Livingston has appeared with the famed Landes Jugend Orchester, served as clinician and guest conductor at the College Band Directors National Conference in Alice Tully Hall, and led All-State Ensembles across the United States including Texas on eleven occasions, an unprecedented record. He has also twice conducted the George Enescu Bucharest Philharmonic Orchestra in Romania, served as Music Director of Thornton School Orchestras, and was Principal Juror for the 3rd Annual Winnipeg Symphony International Conducting Symposium. In 2013-18, Maestro Livingston conducted the All-State Bands or Orchestras of Arizona, Kentucky, California, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, New Mexico, Washington, Michigan, and Texas; led the Sewanee Music Festival Orchestra; served again as clinician for the Disney Honors Program; and returned to Katowice, Poland to conduct the opening concert in an international festival of academy orchestras. As well, he taught in the conducting workshops of the University of Texas, Austin, the University of Texas, San Antonio, and the University of Colorado. A graduate of the University of Michigan, Mr. Livingston studied conducting with Laurence Livingston, Elizabeth Green, William Revelli, Rafael Druian, and Herbert Zipper. He also did doctoral studies at the University of California, San Diego. Mr. Livingston served as Vice President and Music Director of the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, where he was also Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra and, subsequently, became Dean of the Shepherd School of Music and Elma Schneider Professor at Rice University in Houston. From 1986 until 2002, Mr. Livingston was Dean of the USC Flora L. Thornton School of Music during which time he secured the School’s naming gift from Flora Thornton, raised more than 100 million dollars, and where he is now Chair of the Conducting Department. The first music administrator accepted into the Harvard University Executive Education Program, he is a recipient of the Hall of Fame Award from the University of Michigan, the Life in the Arts Award from Idyllwild Arts, and an Outstanding Teacher Award from the USC Center for Religion. As a motivational speaker, he has established a national reputation for inspiring presentations to business and education leaders across the United States. From 2008 to 2015, Mr. Livingston was Director of Educational Initiatives for the Guitar Center where he created and led the national educational quest, ALL IN. He is a consultant to the Conn-Selmer Corporation and, at the request of Quincy Jones, Mr. Livingston chairs the Education Committee of the Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium. In 2013, Mr. Livingston appeared in the “Lights Out” episode of Glee and was featured as a mentor in the USA Cable Network Television series, The Moment.

Jason King

Thank you to Daria Yudacufski, David Delgado, Martin Wong, and the entire Visions and Voices team. Special thanks to the many contributors to tonight’s program: Jules Buckley, Anthony Parnther, Sharon Lavery, Carl St. Clair, Quincy Jones III, Greg Phillinganes, JR Robinson, Gregg Field, Matt Schrader, Kenny Holmes, Harry Weinger, Robert Kraft, Chris Boardman, Adam Fell, Joann Tominaga, Harvey Mason Jr., Ryan Butler, Robin Romans, Josh Kun, Elizabeth Daley, Larry Livingston, Mike Basak, Brent Anderson, Heather Pio Roda, Jeff De Caen, Susan Lopez, Bronson Foster, Chris Lohr, Michael Doshier, Ennis Harris, Takumi Kakimoto, Yafeu Tyhimba, Gretchen Meier, Sean David Christensen, Deanna Gasparyan, Leaha Villarreal, David Helfant, Brian McKenna, Rishi Kumar, Kevin Gasser, Cheryl Brown, Jason Goldman, Will Kennedy, Doug Petty, Sal Lozano, Lionna Romans, Ray Ortiz, Locked, Derrick Lawrence, Seth Parker Woods, Andy Abad, Sean Holt, Stevie Mackey, Lyndia Johnson, Vince Mendoza, and all of the wonderful Thornton students who made themselves available to participate.

Larry Livingston

With profound thanks to Maestra Sharon Lavery, and loud shout out to Mike Basak, Brent Anderson, Heather Louise Pio Roda, Jeff DeCaen, Bronson Foster, and appreciation to Peggy Schmid, Chris Boardman, Tom Bahler, Chris Lohr, and Vince Mendoza. Special thank you to Maestro Carl St.Clair. Personal gratitude and bravo to arrangers Ennis Harris and Takumi Kakimoto.

Finally, congratulations to my co-producer, Jason King, for creating this event, a symbol and evidential affirmation of his vision that we live in a post-genre era whereby music labels are more and more passé. Tonight’s concert then stands not only as an encomium to Quincy Jones but also as a public launch of Dean King’s vision for our School, our brilliant students more and more harvesting their omnivoric talents to make music which is at once compelling and without category.