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Austin Wintory conducts 2024 Game Developers Conference performance in San Francisco

Composer Austin Wintory conducting an orchestra behind a podium on a sound stage.

USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Austin Wintory (‘07) conducted a live instrumental performance at the 2024 Game Developers Conference on March 20 in San Francisco. Co-hosted by voice actor Troy Baker, the performance showcased influential and award-winning game scores throughout history, with a focus on this last year. The concert was presented in accompaniment with… Continue reading Austin Wintory conducts 2024 Game Developers Conference performance in San Francisco


Michael Mennell

Michael Mennell is a Southern California-based bassist and vocalist. He has maintained a 22-plus year teaching career in Los Angeles, and he continues to mentor young players and singers while maintaining a full schedule of recording sessions, live engagements, and tours. Mennell has recorded with artists including John Fogerty, Billy F. Gibbons, Keith Urban, Joe… Continue reading Michael Mennell


Jane Davidson offers legal insight into “Hotel California” trial

Photo of music lawyer Jane Davidson

Jane Davidson (‘14), a USC Thornton Music Industry program alumna and faculty member, was featured in a KCAL 9 News segment about The Eagles’ “Hotel California” lyrics trial. Ownership over the song’s lyrics has been in question for several years. In February, three men were charged with conspiring to own and sell manuscripts of “Hotel… Continue reading Jane Davidson offers legal insight into “Hotel California” trial


Noreen Green conducts “Symphony of the Holocaust” at Palm Springs Jewish Film Festival

Noreen Green smiling and looking at the camera while in front of a dark gray background.

Noreen Green (DMA ‘91), a USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music alumna, conducted the premiere of a chamber version of Shony Alex Braun’s “Symphony of the Holocaust” at the Palm Springs Jewish Film Festival on March 11. The documentary of the same name honors the musical career of Braun, a child violin prodigy and Holocaust… Continue reading Noreen Green conducts “Symphony of the Holocaust” at Palm Springs Jewish Film Festival


USC Thornton Hosts PopCon 2024

Photo of Dean Jason King smiling and shaking hands with musician George Clinton on the stage of a popular music venue.

The acclaimed conference celebrated music writing and popular music studies over three days at USC.


USC Thornton Percussion Group concert program

A variety of percussion instruments

Thomas Goedecke joins University of Hawai’i Maui College music faculty

Photo of composer Thomas Goedecke.

USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Thomas Goedecke (‘13) has joined the University of Hawai’i Maui College as a faculty member in their Institute of Hawaiian Music. Goedecke will work with the Institute’s founder, Keola Donoghy, to teach and recruit students for the Hawaiian Music and General Music certificate programs. At Thornton, Goedecke studied with Veronika… Continue reading Thomas Goedecke joins University of Hawai’i Maui College music faculty


USC Thornton Summer Guitar Seminar

USC THORNTON/ SPOTLIGHT Aspiring Guitarists, Take Note USC Thornton brings back its pre-college summer program that preps young musicians for success; the Guitar Seminar boasts alumni with multiple degrees and amazing careers. DEC 12, 2023 BY JULIE RIGGOT Molly Miller (BM ’11, MM ’13, DMA ’16) started her educational journey at the USC Thornton School of… Continue reading USC Thornton Summer Guitar Seminar


USC Thornton Winds: Emblems concert program

Kira Goya headshot

Faculty and alumni perform on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert

Logo for NPR Music.

USC Thornton faculty and alumni performed on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert in February. On Feb. 19, Composition program faculty member Camae Ayewa (Moor Mother) performed a Tiny Desk Concert with the free-jazz group, Irreversible Entanglements. She sang six tracks, including songs from the band’s new album, Protect Your Light. Watch the performance here. Jazz Studies… Continue reading Faculty and alumni perform on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert


Polish Music Spring: Celebrating Bacewicz & Szymanowski

Verona Quartet

Kaitlin Miller named 2023-2025 Concert Artist of American Harp Society

Kaitlin Miller performs on a concert stage playing the harp.

Kaitlin Miller, a master’s student in the USC Thornton Strings department, was named the American Harp Society’s (AHS) 2023-2025 Concert Artist. As AHS Concert Artist, she will give performances, classes and/or workshops that benefit local harp communities. In February, she performed recitals and taught masterclasses in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Chicago and Denver, with more travels on… Continue reading Kaitlin Miller named 2023-2025 Concert Artist of American Harp Society


PopCon brings first-ever Los Angeles conference to USC

USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism Professor and USC vice provost for the arts, Josh Kun, speaks at a PopCon lectern inside the Annenberg building on USC's campus.

PopCon, the annual music writing and popular music studies conference, came to USC and Los Angeles for the first time on March 7-9. This year’s theme focused on music collections and archives. The conference featured over 30 events—including keynote sessions with funk legend George Clinton, filmmaker dream hampton and journalist Danyel Smith. USC Thornton Dean… Continue reading PopCon brings first-ever Los Angeles conference to USC


USC Thornton celebrates 2024 Oscar winners

Oscar-winning composer Ludwig Göransson with Jennifer Lame and Cillian Murphy at the 96th Annual Academy Awards Governor's Ball, all holding Academy Award statuettes.

USC Thornton composers were celebrated at the 96th Academy Awards, held on Sunday, March 10 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) won his second Oscar for Best Original Score for Oppenheimer, the year’s most-nominated film. He took home his first Oscar in 2019 for Black Panther. Composition alumna Katya Richardson… Continue reading USC Thornton celebrates 2024 Oscar winners


Alumni nominated for 2024 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards

Black and white photo of musicians practicing in a rehearsal hall.

On February 21, several USC Thornton alumni received nominations in the 2024 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards. Raashi Kulkarni (GCRT ’16, MM ’18) was nominated for Film Score of the Year with World’s Best. Katya Richardson (’19) was nominated for Documentary Score of the Year with The Last Repair Shop. Bear McCreary (’02), “God of War:… Continue reading Alumni nominated for 2024 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards


Ludwig Göransson wins 2024 BAFTA Award for “Oppenheimer” score

Black and white square image of composer Ludwig Goranssen.

Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) won a 2024 BAFTA Award in the Best Original Score category for his soundtrack to Oppenheimer, marking the composer’s first BAFTA Award. The awards ceremony was held on Feb. 18 at The Royal Festival Hall in London. Oppenheimer led with wins in seven categories.


Dean Jason King quoted by NPR

Dean Jason King of the USC Thornton School of Music speaking at the Grammy Museum.

USC Thornton Dean Jason King was quoted in an NPR review of the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show, published on Feb. 9. King, an NPR contributor and music scholar, commented on the topic of Las Vegas residencies: “[Vegas Residencies] almost exist outside critical infrastructure,” he said. “These are blockbuster celebrities doing a blockbuster show for… Continue reading Dean Jason King quoted by NPR


Seoyon MacDonald’s recording of Prelude and Fugue selected for 2024 Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival

Pianist Seoyon MacDonald smiling at the camera.

Seoyon MacDonald, a DMA student in the USC Thornton Keyboard Collaborative Arts program, will present her music video and short documentary of Dmitri Shostakovich’s Prelude and Fugue in C# minor at the 2024 Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival. The festival runs through March 11 via Vimeo OnDemand. Discovered in 2019, the Prelude and Fugue was composed… Continue reading Seoyon MacDonald’s recording of Prelude and Fugue selected for 2024 Berlin Lift-Off Film Festival


Jules Pegram joins 2024 International Music Festival of the Adriatic Sea

Jules Pegram conducting while wearing a navy button down.

Jules Pegram (‘13), a USC Thornton Composition program alumnus, has joined the composition faculty for the 2024 International Music Festival of the Adriatic Sea (IMFA). Set in Duino, Italy, IMFA is a collaborative music-making program that provides masterclasses, workshops and recitals for musicians 18 and up. The program will be held on June 2-29. Pegram’s… Continue reading Jules Pegram joins 2024 International Music Festival of the Adriatic Sea


A Life in Music

Photo of radio host and performer Suraj Partha.

Sharing stories of USC Thornton alumni whose passions evolved into multifaceted careers, creating something that is uniquely their own.