Spotlights

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• 12/18

  Celebrating the Fall Semester

  The pioneering, boundary-defying spirit of USC Thornton is celebrated at the closing of another exhilarating semester.

• 12/10

  Chamber Music Thrives in France with International Student Collaboration

  USC Thornton and the Paris Conservatoire come together to transform a rural area of France each summer.

• 11/12

  Beyond the Notes

  Gerald Clayton, USC Thornton Artist-in-Residence in Jazz Studies, delivers a masterclass on the ethics of paying tribute.

• 11/7

  2026 Grammy Nominations

  From USC Thornton alumni and faculty members to Creative Vanguard Artists, our creative community is well represented amongst the 2026 Grammy Award nominees.

• 10/2

  Ambassador Blog: Mariachi Los Troyanos de USC

  Thornton Student Ambassador Ashley Melendres spotlights USC’s only student-led collegiate mariachi band, Mariachi Los Troyanos de USC.

• 8/15

  2025-2026 Signature Series Announced

  The USC Thornton School of Music is excited to announce its Signature Series line-up for the 2025-2026 academic year.

• 8/7

  Office Hours with Jeanine Cowen

  In this ongoing series called “Office Hours,” get to know some of the exceptional scholars and artists who make up USC Thornton’s faculty as they answer questions about themselves.

• 7/29

  Bridging Communities

  The Thornton Community Engagement Program (TCEP) bridges USC and local communities through music and cultural connection.

• 7/22

  2025 Emmy Nominations

  USC Thornton alumni were well-represented as nominees in the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards.

• 6/30

  Voices of Thornton at the LA Phil

  USC Thornton Chamber Singers shine at LA Phil’s Noon to Midnight festival of new music.

• 5/27

  Sustainability Rock Star: Skylar Funk

  Skylar Funk (MA ’25) — a professional rock musician and climate activist — has helped make USC a greener place as graduate co-chair of the Student Sustainability Committee.

• 5/7

  Thornton Student Ambassadors Look Back

  On the eve of graduating, USC Thornton Student Ambassadors reflect on what they’ve learned, offering lessons and perspectives to the incoming class.

• 4/22

  Alumna Remi Wolf Named 2025 Commencement Speaker

  Critically acclaimed musician and performer Remi Wolf will speak to Thornton School of Music graduates on May 16, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.

• 4/2

  Inspiring the Next Generation of Artists

  USC Thornton Mentorship Program connects students Ella Dunbar-Wilcox and Luke Bell to mentor, R&B star Dawn Richard.

• 3/31

  Double Majoring at USC Thornton

  Thornton Student Ambassadors Ellen Cheng and Ashley Melendres.

• 3/26

  Rockin’ in Rhythm: Re-Imagining the Music of Duke Ellington

  Students and faculty from across Thornton celebrate an American master with genre-defying arrangements from his classic songbook.

• 3/21

  Celebrating 40 Years of the Polish Music Center

  The USC Polish Music Center dedicates an evening of music to Henryk Wars on its 40th anniversary.

• 3/12

  PopCon 2025: Baby, It’s A Look!

  The Pop Conference returns to USC Thornton with a focus on the intersection of music and fashion throughout history.

• 3/6

  Mak Grgić: A USC Homecoming

  Grammy-nominated classical guitarist and Thornton alum Mak Grgić returns to campus for a special alumni concert.

• 2/28

  A Composer’s Path

  Composition alum Katya Richardson discusses her immersion in the world of film scoring, a path that has led her all the way to the Oscars and back.

• 2/26

  Thornton Student Ambassadors: Performance Opportunities

  Thornton Student Ambassadors Ellen Cheng and Meghan Chen offer a glimpse into the classical and popular music performance opportunities available at USC Thornton.

• 2/11

  Office Hours with León F. García Corona

  In this ongoing series called “Office Hours,” get to know some of the exceptional scholars and artists who make up USC Thornton’s faculty as they answer questions about themselves.

• 2/4

  USC Thornton Alumni Win at the Grammys

  At the 2025 Grammy Awards, USC Thornton alumni were celebrated for outstanding achievement across all corners of the music industry.

• 1/24

  Thornton Student Ambassadors: Learning Through Collaboration

  Thornton Student Ambassadors Madeline Clara Cheng, Alyssa Holland and Oliviana Marie share highlights from their collaborations as USC Thornton students.

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