Koji Sakano

Major: Choral Music

Graduation year: 2023

Hometown: Pennington, NJ

USC Organizations: ACDA (American Choral Directors Association), TCEP (Thornton Community Engagement Program), Così (Italian Language and Culture Club)

Hashtag to describe yourself: #jerseyfresh

Describe your favorite USC Thornton experience so far.

My favorite Thornton experience so far has been the choir program’s masterclass with Voces8. I’ve idolized the group for a long time and so singing with them was a dream come true!

What was your favorite USC GE class?

LING 115: Linguistics and Society

What is your favorite thing about being in Los Angeles?

UGH so many things, but coming from New Jersey it’s definitely the weather.

What is something you wish you knew when you were applying to college?

I wish I knew that people will be there to help you through the transition to college life. I was really afraid of being in a new environment with totally new people. But, between RA meetings and the herd-mentality most freshman luckily have, I got to know a lot of people quickly!

Where is your favorite place on campus?

In the shade by the rocks behind BMH.

What is your favorite thing about being a student at USC Thornton?

Having friends with so many different interests! In my first semester alone I was going to my friends’ operas, pop showcases, and musical theatre productions, among other things. I love seeing all of them exploring their interests, and it’s awesome to see them grow as artists in so many ways.

Why did you choose USC Thornton?

The main reason is because, in my whole college search, it was the only school that had a performance degree specifically for choral performance. Plus, there’s so many other high-level music programs that you can be a part of and try!