Thornton Student Ambassadors Look Back
By Brittany Jimenez & Deanna Gasparyan
On the eve of graduating, USC Thornton Student Ambassadors reflect on what they’ve learned, offering lessons and perspectives to the incoming class.
Sofia Llacer Chamberlain
B.M. Violin Performance and B.S Biological Sciences (’24)
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What three words would you use to best describe the Thornton School?
Supportive, fun, and a true learning experience.
What is one of your favorite memories from your time at USC?
Hanging out with my awesome friends after class and just making music with them, whether it be for a performance or for a simple hangout jam session.
What is the best advice a Thornton faculty, staff or student gave you while studying at Thornton?
Putting your best foot forward in every interaction you have, as the peers and friends you surround yourself with now are the same people you will be working with in the future. Engaging with those around me has opened so many doors for me that I would never have thought possible beforehand.
What will you miss most about USC?
I will miss seeing my dear professor, Prof. Dicterow, for my weekly lessons. I have learned so much from him in my four years here and he has really made my time here at USC special.
What are your plans for next year?
I will be taking a gap year to work and apply to medical school.
Rosie Ding
B.M. Choral Music and B.A. Public Relations (’24)
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What three words would you use to best describe the Thornton School?
Where family is.
What is one of your favorite memories from your time at USC?
One of my Thornton highlights was being able to perform with Voces8 at their concert in the Pacific Palisades as part of the USC Chamber Singers. It was incredible to see them in action and be able to share the stage with one of my favorite vocal groups.
What is the best advice a Thornton faculty, staff or student gave you while studying at Thornton?
This came from my audition weekend before I started at Thornton, but I remember one of the student ambassadors saying that there wasn’t any need to feel imposter syndrome because almost everyone feels the same way here, and because everyone at Thornton is so unique and talented in their own way. I’ve lived by this piece of advice over the past four years, and I love sharing it with any prospective students or new admits that I meet.
What are your plans for next year?
I’ll probably either be traveling the world or taking a short detour in the sports industry before I apply for conducting graduate programs next cycle! Excited to see where the wind takes me.
Ajani Harris
B.M. Vocal Arts (’24)
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What three words would you use to best describe the Thornton School?
Growth, opportunity, and connection.
What is one of your favorite memories from your time at USC?
One of my favorite and most fulfilling memories is getting to play Tom Collins in the School of Dramatic Art’s Spring 2024 production of Rent! Tom Collins was a dream role for me, and I hope to play the character again on Broadway someday.
What is the best advice a Thornton faculty, staff or student gave you while studying at Thornton?
My private voice teacher Karen Parks told me that we as artists have “Nothing to prove, only to share.” This advice has helped ease my nerves before performances. It’s easy to put pressure on ourselves to be perfect, but if you go out there and share your art to the best of your ability, it will help you to put less stress on yourself.
What are your plans for next year?
I plan to attend the Disney College Program with hopes to perform for Disney Parks afterwards. I love performing, so getting to perform in a show with the opportunity to be seen by so many people would be incredible.
George Tyler Heffley
B.M. Jazz Studies and B.S. Music Industry (’24)
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What three words would you use to best describe the Thornton School?
Professional, tenacious, and supportive.
What advice would you give to new Thornton students?
Do as much as you can while you are here at USC. Join clubs, plan shows, go to sporting games and events, hangout with people, and get involved with as much as you can. You don’t have to be a part of organizations for your whole time here, but you should strive to do everything that you want to by the time that you graduate.
What has been your favorite thing about going to school in Los Angeles?
I really appreciate how involved Los Angeles is in the entertainment business. With all of the music and movies that are happening around town, there is never a shortage of shows to go to and perform in, as well as film and TV projects to be a part of. I grew up in L.A. (specifically Burbank), and I’ll probably continue to live here.
What are your plans for next year?
Broadly speaking, my plans are to continue to work and be involved in the music industry. Immediately, I will be a music supervision intern at Format Entertainment. Also, I’ll continue to write music, play guitar for myself and other artists, and write music for film. I’m definitely excited for what is to come!
Emily Hsu
B.M. Violin Performance and B.S. Business Administration (’24)
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Photo caption: Graduation photo taken on campus courtesy of Emily Hsu.
What three words would you use to best describe the Thornton School?
Family, innovative, and inspiring.
What is one of your favorite memories from your time at USC?
The people I met throughout my time here, both inside and outside of Thornton, will be my lifelong friends and have truly shaped my college experience.
What is the best advice a Thornton faculty, staff or student gave you while studying at Thornton?
To let loose and truly enjoy the music on stage, since it’s so easy to get caught up in perfecting the technique!
What will you miss most about USC?
I’ll miss the opportunity to take classes that aren’t part of my major requirements. At USC, I was able to take classes such as archery, yoga and songwriting. There are so many more classes I’d love to take if I had more semesters here!
What are your plans for next year?
I’ll be pursuing a career as a financial analyst! I plan to keep music as a part of my life through gigging, teaching and/or joining an orchestra.
Patricia Wang
B.M. Organ Performance (’24)
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What three words would you use to best describe the Thornton School?
The words that come to mind are interesting, encouraging and engaging.
What is one of your favorite memories from your time at USC?
One of my favorite memories from my time here at USC is performing with the American Contemporary Ballet in L.A. and getting the chance to collaborate with other Trojans during these shows to connect two distinct forms of performance arts: dance and music.
What has been your favorite thing about going to school in Los Angeles?
One of my favorite things about going to school in L.A. is that we are very close to many great art museums and botanical gardens. My favorite thing has been visiting these places during weekends or when I am looking for fresh ideas and inspirations for music.
What will you miss most about USC?
I will miss studying at Doheny Library and Mudd Hall Library the most. These are my two favorite studying spots on campus with absolutely beautiful stained glass and historical artifacts.
What are your plans for next year?
I will be pursuing my master’s degree in Organ Performance at USC Thornton.
