Posts Tagged ‘Alumni’


Justin Lubliner

Justin Lubliner to give keynote speech at #NextGen_Now Virtual Summit

July 14, 2020

On July 28, Music Industry alum Justin Lubliner (BS ’12) will be the keynote speaker at the Music Business Association’s #NEXTGEN_NOW Virtual Summit. The event brings together young professionals in the music industry for discussions about industry innovations and career building. Lubliner launched his own label, Darkroom Records, and signed multi-GRAMMY Award-winner Billie Eilish. His… Continue reading Justin Lubliner to give keynote speech at #NextGen_Now Virtual Summit


Yasmina Spiegelberg holding clarinet

Three Thornton artists join Yellow Barn Summer Artist Residency concert series

July 13, 2020

Three students and alumni of USC Thornton will appear as artists in residence at Yellow Barn this summer and perform in the organization’s first-ever virtual concert series: cellist and graduate certificate student Coleman Itzkoff (MM ’16); cellist Gabriel Martins (BM ’19); and clarinetist and artist diploma student Yasmina Spiegelberg (GCRT ’17). The three musicians will… Continue reading Three Thornton artists join Yellow Barn Summer Artist Residency concert series


Renee Elise Goldsberry

Renée Elise Goldsberry interviewed in LA Times

July 9, 2020

Tony Award-winning Jazz Studies alum Renée Elise Goldsberry (MM ’97) was interviewed in the LA Times about her role as Angelica Schuyler in the hit musical Hamilton after the film version of the musical was recently released on Disney+. Goldsberry, who was also nominated for a GRAMMY in addition to her Tony win, talks about… Continue reading Renée Elise Goldsberry interviewed in LA Times


Tomas Janzon album cover

Tomas Janzon earns warm reviews for latest album

July 8, 2020

USC Thornton alum Tomas Janzon (MM ’00) recently released a new album, 130th & Lenox, and received positive reviews in Downbeat magazine and JazzTimes. About Janzon’s playing, JazzTimes writes: “Even when guitarist Tomas Janzon is in full flight, his music is welcoming—he sounds as if he wants to invite us in, rather than intimidate or… Continue reading Tomas Janzon earns warm reviews for latest album


Image of a woman near a keyboard and music paper.

Patrice Rushen and Thornton alumni invited into the Academy

July 7, 2020

Patrice Rushen, chair of the Popular Music program at USC Thornton, along with three Thornton alumni—Chanda Dancy (GCRT ’04), Roger Neill (BM ’86), and Jermaine Stegall (GCRT ’04)—have been invited into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Rushen’s classic song “Forget Me Nots” was sampled for Will Smith’s “Men in Black,” from the… Continue reading Patrice Rushen and Thornton alumni invited into the Academy


Varqa Buehrer

Thornton Alumni receive ASCAP 2020 Screen Music Awards

July 1, 2020

Multiple alumni of USC Thornton received awards and nominations for the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) 2020 Screen Music Awards, honoring the accomplishments of composers for film, television and video games from 2019. Bear McCreary (BM ’02) and Gordy Haab (GCRT ’02) received top honors in the Composers’ Choice categories. McCreary was… Continue reading Thornton Alumni receive ASCAP 2020 Screen Music Awards


Remi Wolf poses in a laundromat

Remi Wolf featured in LA Times

June 30, 2020

Remi Wolf (BM ’18), an alum of USC Thornton’s Popular Music program, was recently featured in the Los Angeles Times in an article highlighting her recent releases. After signing with Island Records earlier this year, Wolf released her first major label EP on June 24 called I’m Allergic to Dogs! The article highlights Wolf’s vocal… Continue reading Remi Wolf featured in LA Times


Garrett McQueen

Garrett McQueen talks Trilloquy podcast and resisting the status quo in Rewire interview

June 21, 2020

Bassoonist, radio host and USC Thornton alum Garrett McQueen (MM ’12) discusses the origins and work behind his classical music podcast, Trilloquy, in a recent interview with Rewire. Hosted by McQueen and his collaborator, Scott Blankenship, the podcast takes on subjects not often addressed in conversations around classical music, such as the intersection of classical… Continue reading Garrett McQueen talks Trilloquy podcast and resisting the status quo in Rewire interview


Emily Cooley

Emily Cooley and Sturdivant Adams awarded 2020 Morton Gould Young Composer Awards

June 20, 2020

USC Thornton Composition alum Emily Cooley (MM ’14) and Screen Scoring alum Sturdivant Adams (MM ’19) have both been awarded the 2020 Morton Gould Young Composer Award. The national juried competition honors composers of original, classical concert music under the age of 30. Cooley received the award in recognition of her piece titled “Dissolve.” Adams… Continue reading Emily Cooley and Sturdivant Adams awarded 2020 Morton Gould Young Composer Awards


faculty and alumni portraits

Thornton faculty and alumni join MusiCares relief benefit

June 18, 2020

USC Thornton faculty members and alumni are among the many artists and composers contributing their talents to “Soundtrack of Our Lives: A Celebration for the Film & TV Music Community,” an online benefit show for the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund. Screen Scoring alum Jongnic Bontemps (GCRT ’12), Composition alumni Austin Wintory (BM ’07) and Michael… Continue reading Thornton faculty and alumni join MusiCares relief benefit