Ludwig Göransson earns Academy Award nomination while USC Thornton alumni and faculty are featured in nominated films

Alumni and faculty from across the music departments and programs of USC Thornton were well represented in the 2024 Oscar nominations, announced on January 23.

Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) earned his third nomination in the Best Original Score category for Oppenheimer while composition alum Katya Richardson (’19) composed the score to Best Documentary Short nominee The Last Repair Shop, based on themes from celebrated composer Kris Bowers. USC Thornton Board of Councilors member Jane Solomon is one of the producers of the documentary, and alumnus Vince Womack (MMED ’97) is featured conducting an orchestra in the final scene. Jongnic Bontemps (GCRT ‘12) composed the score to The Barber of Little Rock, which was also nominated for Best Documentary Short.

Many of the nominated films featured performances from both alumni and faculty alike. A brief list of highlights, representative of so many stellar performances, include USC Thornton faculty member Patrice Rushen who played piano on the Oscar-nominated soundtrack to American Fiction, composed by former adjunct instructor in screen scoring, Laura Karpman. USC Thornton faculty member JoAnn Turovsky (’75) was the principal harpist on John Williams’ nominated score for Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Composition alum Ross Garren (’08) was one of the harmonica soloists on the nominated score to Killers of the Flower Moon, composed by the late Robbie Robertson.

The 96th Academy Awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 10 at Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. 

Please check back to this news story as other alumni involvement may be added to the nominated films this year.

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Photo illustration by Mingmei Li.