University of Southern California

Resident conductor Sharon Lavery leads the USC Thornton Symphony in a rousing program celebrating Bernstein at 100. The concert features Bernstein's Overture to Candide, Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, as well as selections from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, Suites 1 & 2. PROGRAM: Bernstein - Overture to Candide Bernstein – Symphonic Dances from West Side Story Prokofiev – Romeo and Juliet: Selections from Suites 1 & 2

Donald Crockett leads the USC Thornton Edge new music group in a program of colorful and evocative music from Europe, including Derives 1 by Pierre Boulez, Lied in Fall by Hans Abrahamsen, and The Bagpiper's String Trio by Judith Weir.

H. Robert Reynolds and Sharon Lavery lead the USC Thornton Wind Ensemble in a radiant journey from the 19th century through today, featuring music by Dvořák, Mahler, Stravinsky, Joan Tower, and Thornton alumnus Zhou Tian. PROGRAM Joan Tower – Fanfare for the Uncommon Woman No. 2 Igor Stravinsky – Octet Gustav Mahler – Um Mitternacht Antonin Dvorak – Serenade, op. 44 Zhou Tian – Petals of Fire

Rotem Gilbert and the USC Thornton Baroque Sinfonia explore the musical flowers of 17th century Italy, featuring vocal works by Chiara Margherita Cozzolani, Barbara Strozzi, and Giovanni Legrenzi, along with virtuosic instrumental fireworks. This event is co-produced with the USC-Huntington Early Modern Studies Institute.

Guest conductor Andrés Cárdenes, Artistic Director of the Carnegie Mellon University Philharmonic, leads the USC Thornton Symphony in the annual Concerto Night, showcasing three outstanding student and graduate soloists. Elissa Brown will perform Christophe Rouse's Flute Concerto, while violinist Strauss Shi performs Franz Waxman's Carmen Fantasie, and Yuhan Yeh performs Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3. PROGRAM: Franz Waxman – Carmen Fantasie featuring violinist Strauss Shi Christopher Rouse – Flute Concerto featuring Elissa Brown Serge Prokofiev – Piano Concerto No.3, op.26, C Major featuring Yuhan Yeh

The USC Thornton Wind Ensemble celebrates the centennial of visionary American composer Leonard Bernstein with a performance of favorites from West Side Story to Candide, along with music by Adam Schoenberg and faculty member Jim Self. H. Robert Reynolds and Sharon Lavery conduct. PROGRAM James Self – Ta Da Fanfare Adam Schoenberg – Picture Studies Leonard Bernstein – Overture to Candide Leonard Bernstein – “Symphonic Dances” from West Side Story Leonard Bernstein – BSO Forever March

The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO)-Thornton Strings Mentorship Program presents the Mock Orchestral Audition, providing students with the hands-on experience of a professional orchestra audition. True to the professional process, selected USC Thornton Strings students will play orchestral excerpts behind a screen for a panel of adjudicators. At the conclusion of the audition, a special award may be given to an exceptional student at the discretion of the judges, giving them an opportunity to be mentored by a LACO principal musician and to perform as a substitute player during one week of the orchestra's 2018-19 concert season.

USC Thornton's tuba faculty – Jim Self, Norm Pearson, and Doug Tornquist – present a collaborative recital, performing solo, as a tuba trio, and with guest performers in a wide variety of music, including a world premiere. The three leading Southern California tubists are principals in the Los Angeles Philharmonic, LA Opera, Long Beach Symphony, Pacific Symphony, Pasadena Symphony, LA Master Chorale, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and the Hollywood studios.

Joseph Pereira, Thornton faculty member and Principal Timpanist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, leads the Percussion Group in a program of contemporary works, including Steve Reich's minimalist masterpiece, Drumming.

Carl St.Clair leads the USC Thornton Chamber Orchestra in a joyful program, featuring Ravel's Le Tombeau de Couperin and Mother Goose Suite, along with Haydn's sparkling Symphony No. 88. PROGRAM: Ravel – Ma mère l'Oye (Mother Goose) Ravel – Le Tombeau de Couperin Haydn – Symphony No.88 in G Major

The USC Thornton Edge, the new music group led by Donald Crockett, presents a program of recent music from the United States, including Lightenings by Thornton alumna Elizabeth Ogonek, and music for large ensemble by David Dzubay.

The USC Thornton Opera program and USC Thornton Symphony present a rare French double bill featuring iconic one-act operas, Stravinsky’s Le Rossignol and Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilèges. Le Rossignol, with music by Igor Stravinsky and libretto by Stravinsky and Stepan Mitussov, is based on a story by Hans Christian Anderson and speaks to a spoiled ruler’s lack of control over nature and death. L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, composed by Maurice Ravel with libretto by the incomparable Colette, is the story of the consequences for a child who, in anger, destroys his nursery room, harming the animals around him. The child and the emperor both learn to find solace in nature and harmony in the worlds they inhabit. Performed in French with English subtitles. A pre-performance discussion on Friday, Nov. 16 is presented by USC Visions and Voices: The Arts and Humanities Initiative. Wednesday, Nov. 14 at 8PM Friday, Nov. 16 at 8PM Sunday, Nov. 18 at 2PM