Thornton Student Ambassadors Look Back
By Brittany Jimenez
On the eve of graduating, USC Thornton Student Ambassadors reflect on what they’ve learned, offering lessons and perspectives to the incoming class.
Ella Kaale: BM ’25, Composition
Q: What three words would you use to best describe the Thornton School?
A: Kaleidoscopic, inspiring, home
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from your time at USC?
A: My favorite memory from USC was putting my senior recital together in the fall. I wrote one hour-long piece called “The Allegory of Everywhere” for 13 of my friends, and we spent a whole month in rehearsals. It was such a great capstone to my undergraduate experience because the piece is sort of a collage of all my favorite things I’ve absorbed here. Nine of the thirteen performers were members of the composition department, and I myself played cello. It was a super challenging but educational and rewarding experience that I will remember forever.
Q: What is the best advice a Thornton faculty, staff or student gave you while studying at Thornton?
A: Read!
Q: What advice would you give to new Thornton students?
A: Go to things. Show your face. Be there for your colleagues. People will notice. It shows that you take your community seriously, and you will be taken seriously because of it. Don’t wait for the doors to open themselves– take the initiative and it will pay off.
Q: What will you miss most about USC?
A: I will always miss living at Cardinal Gardens Apartments with my friends and getting breakfast together before aural skills and theory classes!
Q: What has been your favorite thing about going to school in Los Angeles?
A: Student discount tickets for the LA Phil, especially for the Green Umbrella New Music Concert Series!
Q: What are your plans for next year?
A: I will be pursuing my M.M. in Composition right here at USC, working as a Teaching Assistant in Aural Skills!
Addie Jean Teolis: BM ’25, Popular Music Performance
Q: What three words would you use to best describe the Thornton School?
A: Dedication, Community, Growth
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from your time at USC?
A: My favorite memories are of laughing during late night rehearsals with members of my cohort.
Q: What is the best advice a Thornton faculty, staff or student gave you while studying at Thornton?
A: The best advice I received was to not let fear limit me in any way.
Q: What advice would you give to new Thornton students?
A: As Thornton students inevitably spend so much time together, I would advise new students to nurture friendships with the diverse student body throughout USC. The four years will fly by, so work hard, but make sure you leave time for fun.
Q: What will you miss most about USC?
A: I will miss randomly running into my peers and professors while walking around campus, giving us time to catch up and reconnect.
Q: What has been your favorite thing about going to school in Los Angeles?
A: I have loved being in Los Angeles because the city is full of artistic opportunities and the USC community inevitably spreads throughout the city.
Q: What are your plans for next year?
A: I am excited for next year as I will be releasing my first album and continuing to pursue work in songwriting, music production, and performance.
Ashley Melendres: BM ’25, Classical Guitar Performance | BS ’25, Neuroscience
Q: What three words would you use to best describe the Thornton School?
A: Fun, collaborative, supportive
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from your time at USC?
A: Hanging out with my friends in Chess Club at the USC football games! We had a great time tailgating and cheering on the team.
Q: What is the best advice a Thornton faculty, staff or student gave you while studying at Thornton?
A: The four years go by super fast, so do your best to enjoy them. This advice was from my private teacher, and boy, was he right. I can’t believe I’m about to graduate!
Q: What advice would you give to new Thornton students?
A: Join a bunch of clubs when you get to campus! You don’t need to commit to them long-term, but it can be a great way to meet people and figure out what you like / don’t like. Work on time management! Good time management gives you much more free time, so utilize resources like google calendar.
Q: What will you miss most about USC?
A: The people I’ve met here – both my friends and my teachers.
Q: What has been your favorite thing about going to school in Los Angeles?
A: The weather and the city. It’s awesome getting to go to the beach in January, and there is always so much going on in the city that you can always find something to do.
Q: What are your plans for next year?
A: I am applying to medical school in a few weeks, so hopefully I will be starting next fall!
Hannah Wolf: BS ’25, Music Industry
Q: What three words would you use to best describe the Thornton School?
A: Collaborative, Network, Family
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from your time at USC?
A: My favorite memory at USC was when Muna came on campus and spoke to my class. I am a big fan of Muna, and when they came to my class, I was so excited that I showed up an hour early to be in the front row. After class, I could talk to them and get a photo too.
Q: What is the best advice a Thornton faculty, staff or student gave you while studying at Thornton?
A: The best advice I received came from Mike Garcia. He said that after graduation, you’ll likely be working with many of the same people you meet now in the music industry program. That’s why it’s so important to network, stay open to conversations, and build genuine connections, because in five years, those relationships could turn into valuable collaborations or open doors when you need support.
Q: What advice would you give to new Thornton students?
A: Talk to all of your professors! They have so much experience and you can learn so much from them if you go out of your way to talk and learn from them.
Q: What will you miss most about USC?
A: The one thing I will miss the most about USC is the community I have made. I love the people in my life; we all will be in different places or busy with school or careers.
Q: What has been your favorite thing about going to school in Los Angeles?
A: I love going to live shows at any scale, whether a small bar/club or a stadium show. Living in Los Angeles has allowed me to see many shows and explore other venues.
Q: What are your plans for next year?
A: My plans aren’t finalized yet! I hope to know what I am doing soon!
Sarah Hobbs: BS ’25, Music Industry
Q: What three words would you use to best describe the Thornton School?
A: Amazing, Influential, Inspiring
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from your time at USC?
A: My favorite memory that I have is when I got the opportunity to attend Depeche Mode’s concert at the Forum last December (I’m a huge fan). Me and a few other students got to go backstage and chat with the managers and then sit practically front row for the show. It was the most memorable experience ever — and definitely the coolest!
Q: What is the best advice a Thornton faculty, staff or student gave you while studying at Thornton?
A: 80% of the people in a room will want to talk to you. 20% simply won’t. So rather than worrying about the 20% of people who don’t want to talk to you, find the people that will — Mike Garcia told me this in the Fall and it changed the way I chat with people (especially since I’m a big over thinker)
Q: What advice would you give to new Thornton students?
A: Enjoy the time that you have here! Once I stopped stressing out about my future and simply embraced the present moment, I made my closest friends who I absolutely adore. You miss so much when you are focused on what will happen in a month or even a year! Live in the moment — it makes so much of a difference.
Q: What will you miss most about USC?
A: My friends 🙁 I met the most incredible people in my 2 years at USC and I will miss them so much.
Q: What has been your favorite thing about going to school in Los Angeles?
A: I love how much access I have to different events and concerts happening around me. I feel like no matter the day of the week, there is something going on. It’s so exciting to explore such a big city!!
Q: What are your plans for next year? I will (officially) be working full time at a record label!! YAY!
Oliviana Marie: BM ’25, Composition
Q: What three words would you use to best describe the Thornton School?
A: Collaborative, supportive, life-changing
Q: What is one of your favorite memories from your time at USC?
A: I grew up at the United University Church on USC’s campus, where my dad, a fellow Thornton alumnus, was the music director. I was baptized there, sang in the choir with my mom every week, and even had my 6th birthday party in the courtyard. In March 2024, the church became the new home for USC’s School of Dramatic Arts, and I had the absolute honor of composing music, playing trumpet, piano and acting in the very first production that was done in the Sanctuary Theatre! It truly was a full-circle moment and one of my favorite memories from my time here.
Q: What is the best advice a Thornton faculty, staff or student gave you while studying at Thornton?
A: Say yes to as much as you can and always be kind to everyone, because you never know where your next opportunity will come from.
Q: What advice would you give to new Thornton students?
A: The community here is incredibly supportive, so never be afraid to ask for help!
Q: What will you miss most about USC?
A: I will miss my dear friends, the incredible mentors who have taught me so much, and our weekly composition forums, where I was constantly inspired by my colleagues in the Composition Department!
Q: What has been your favorite thing about going to school in Los Angeles?
A: The community! As an L.A. native, it’s been incredible to meet people from all around the world who come to USC and Los Angeles to pursue their passions. It’s given me a new perspective and appreciation for this city I’ve known my whole life and all that it has to offer. I’m so proud to call Los Angeles my home.
Q: What are your plans for next year?
A: I have been accepted to several mentorship programs post-grad, including the Johnny Mercer Foundation’s Songwriters Project in Nashville, Tennessee and the Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Intensive in Sidney, Maine. I have commissions from White Snake Projects, an activist opera company in Boston; as well as the American Pops Orchestra, based in Washington, D.C. and Camarada Chamber Ensemble in San Diego.
