Thomas Mellan opens Jacaranda Music’s new season
USC Thornton Composition student and Organ Studies alum Thomas Mellan (BM ’17, MM ’19) recently opened Jacaranda Music’s 2019-2020 season in Los Angeles as a resident organist. Mellan performed in Jacaranda’s opening concert, “Organic Rush,” on Sept. 21 alongside organist and conductor Mark Allen Hilt. Mellan will also close the season in June with a… Continue reading Thomas Mellan opens Jacaranda Music’s new season
Kathryn Eberle appointed concertmaster of Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
USC Thornton alum Kathryn Eberle (BM ’04) has been appointed concertmaster of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Eberle was selected after the orchestra’s summer auditions to fill the position of the late Katia Popov. Along with being a seasoned soloist and chamber musician, Eberle is the associate concertmaster for the Utah Symphony, a position she will… Continue reading Kathryn Eberle appointed concertmaster of Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Ted Hearne releases new album “Hazy Heart Pump”
Composition faculty member Ted Hearne has released a new album, “Hazy Heart Pump,” from New Focus Recordings. The album of chamber works includes unique collaborations between Hearne and other performers, such as a piece with renowned poet Saul Williams in which Hearne composed music around Williams’ reading of a spoken word poem. The album also… Continue reading Ted Hearne releases new album “Hazy Heart Pump”
Matt Cohen produces winner of GMA Dove Award for Hip Hop Song of the Year
Studio Guitar alum Matt Cohen (BM ’14) co-wrote and produced the song “Fight For Me,” by GAWVI that recently won the 2019 Dove Award for Rap/Hip Hop Song of the Year. Cohen was also a producer on GAWVI’s album “Panorama,” which was nominated for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year. The GMA Dove Awards are… Continue reading Matt Cohen produces winner of GMA Dove Award for Hip Hop Song of the Year
Daniel Smythe forges nontraditional career path
Classical Guitar alum Daniel Smythe (BM ’95, MM ’97) was recently profiled in Trojan Family Magazine, where he discussed his unconventional career path as a musician and business consultant. Smythe earned his Bachelor and Master of Music at USC Thornton, and envisioned himself as a musician and teacher. However, after taking an arts management role… Continue reading Daniel Smythe forges nontraditional career path
Alexander Miller stages multi-media performance about lost LA landmarks
USC Thornton alumnus Alexander Miller (DMA ’10) will perform a multi-media project To…Oblivion: Historic Landmarks Around Los Angeles for the first time in its entirety on Friday, October 25 at Boston Court Pasadena. Using electric guitar and audio and visual effects, Miller’s performance will explore six LA landmarks that have been irreparably altered or destroyed.… Continue reading Alexander Miller stages multi-media performance about lost LA landmarks
Popular Music alumni Annie Dingwall and Justin Klunk to perform at Hollywood Bowl
USC Thornton alumni Annie Dingwall (’13) and Justin Klunk (’13), who form the band RAINNE, will perform at the Hollywood Bowl on October 19 alongside acts such as Taylor Swift, the Jonas Brothers and Billie Eilish. RAINNE was selected out of 2,700 other acts that entered the competition for the Hollywood Bowl slot. The performance… Continue reading Popular Music alumni Annie Dingwall and Justin Klunk to perform at Hollywood Bowl
Austin Wintory scores new game “John Wick Hex”
Composition alum Austin Wintory (’07) has composed the music of “John Wick Hex,” a new video game based on the popular John Wick movie series. Wintory is best known for his GRAMMY-nominated score for the game “Journey” and his score for “Assassin’s Creed Syndicate.” Lionsgate and game developer Bithell Games made the announcement of Wintory’s… Continue reading Austin Wintory scores new game “John Wick Hex”
Faculty and alumni come together at fourth annual CollabFest
USC Thornton will have a strong presence at the upcoming CollabFest conference, with many alumni and faculty attending. Alan Smith, director of Keyboard Collaborative Arts, Andrew Harley (DMA ’97), Russell Miller (BM), James Douglass (DMA ’04), ChoEun Lee (DMA, ’13) and Lisa Sylvester, Chair of Vocal Arts & Opera at Thornton, will all be participating.… Continue reading Faculty and alumni come together at fourth annual CollabFest
USC Thornton faculty and alumni enter GRAMMY Award consideration
A number of Thornton faculty and alumni have entered consideration for GRAMMY award nominations. Jazz Studies faculty member Sara Gazarek’s album Thirsty Ghost is up for consideration in multiple categories including Best Jazz Vocal Album. Alumnus Gernot Wolfgang’s (GCRT ’94) chamber music album, Vienna and the West, was entered in the Best Classical Compendium category.… Continue reading USC Thornton faculty and alumni enter GRAMMY Award consideration