Artists to the Stage
By Evan Calbi
USC Thornton helped celebrate the inauguration of president Carol L. Folt with a series of amazing collaborations and performances.
USC gave an enthusiastic welcome to Carol L. Folt as she was formally inaugurated as the university’s 12th president on Sept. 20, and student performers from USC Thornton provided the soundtrack for the week’s festivities, including an Arts Showcase, a Faculty Research Symposium and the Inauguration Ceremony. It was a warm welcome to President Folt, and the events featured USC Thornton students from across the school.
At Wednesday’s USC Arts Showcase, students from USC Thornton collaborated with other USC arts schools to stage a multidisciplinary celebration of talent from across the university that included live jazz, dance, film, musical theatre and interactive art installations. The showcase was a striking display of the cross-disciplinary strengths of the university’s arts programs, with students represented from USC Thornton, USC Kaufman School of Dance, USC School of Cinematic Arts, USC School of Dramatic Arts, USC Roski School of Art and Design and the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences.
On Thursday, celebrated composer, alumnus and USC Thornton faculty member Andrew Norman drew rave reviews for his presentation at the Faculty Research Symposium. Norman, recently praised as “the leading American composer of his generation” by the Los Angeles Times, impressed attendees with an artistic collaboration with faculty member Jennifer Lott from the USC Kaufman School of Dance. Their presentation explored the intersection of music and dance in the digital age.
Finally, on Friday, students from the Vocal Arts program lent their talents to the inauguration ceremony. Amanda Rindlisbach sang the national anthem; pianist Alexander Lansburgh, baritone Lamarcus Miller, and mezzo soprano Natalie Sheppard performed Bernstein; and Alec Fore sang “All Hail,” the USC alma mater, to close the ceremony.
“This whole morning,” President Folt said of the inauguration, “has taken my breath away.”