John Williams and the USC Thornton Symphony
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Andrew Harrison performs back-to-back concertos
Saxophone alumnus Andrew Harrison (DMA ’15) performed two back-to-back concertos last month at La Sierra University and Cerritos College. On November 10th, Harrison performed the premiere of Jim Stephenson’s Mobius Trip: Concerto for Saxophone and Wind Ensemble at La Sierra University in a concert conducted by alum Giovanni Santos (MM ’07). Three days later, on… Continue reading Andrew Harrison performs back-to-back concertos
Dale Trumbore wins ACDA’s Brock Competition for Professional Composers
Composition alumna, Dale Trumbore (MM ’11), won the American Choral Directors Association’s first Raymond W. Brock Competition for Professional Composers for her composition In the Middle. The work will be performed by the Aeolians at the 2019 ACDA national conference in Kansas City in February with Jason Max Ferdinand conducting. Trumbore has been called “a… Continue reading Dale Trumbore wins ACDA’s Brock Competition for Professional Composers
Zhengyi Bai selected as Adler Fellow with San Francisco Opera
Tenor and USC Thornton Vocal Arts alumnus, Zhengyi Bai (GC ’18), was named a 2019 Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera. Bai was chosen along with nine other singers in this multi-year performance-oriented residency offering advanced young artists intensive individual training, coaching and professional seminars as well as a wide range of performance opportunities.
Eva Beneke appointed associate professor of guitar at Norwegian Academy of Music
Alumnus Eva Beneke (DMA ’12) has just been appointed associate professor of guitar at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, Norway. Beneke has been serving as a full-time professor on the faculty at McNallySmith College of Music in St. Paul Minnesota as well as the artistic director of Lowertown Classics, a chamber-music series.
Jessica Hall serves as pianist and coach at Wexford Festival Opera in Ireland
Pianist and USC Thornton Keyboard Collaborative Arts alumna Jessica Hall (MM ’09, GC ’11, DMA ’14) has recently served as the principal coach and orchestral pianist for William Bolcom’s opera, Dinner at Eight, at the Wexford Festival Opera in Ireland. Hall has been involved with the piece since 2016, when it was workshopped at the… Continue reading Jessica Hall serves as pianist and coach at Wexford Festival Opera in Ireland
Keyboard Studies students honored at the California Association of Professional Music Teachers conference
Students and alumni of USC Thornton’s Keyboard Studies program recently enjoyed an excellent showing at the 50th annual California Association of Professional Music Teachers’ (CAPMT) state conference in Torrance. DMA candidate Daniel Linder won the award for Article of the Year in CAPMT Connect, the organization’s official peer-reviewed journal, for “A Multisensory Approach to Memorization,”… Continue reading Keyboard Studies students honored at the California Association of Professional Music Teachers conference
YuEun Kim and Sung Chang take 2nd Prize at Boulder duo competition
Violinist YuEun Kim (GCRT ’15, ARTD ’17) and pianist Sung Chang (GCRT ’17), have been jointly awarded 2nd prize at the Art of Duo: Boulder International Chamber Music Festival in Boulder, Colorado. The USC Thornton alumni performed the 2nd movement of Ravel’s Violin Sonata No. 2 Enjoy a video of their winning performance below: [iframe… Continue reading YuEun Kim and Sung Chang take 2nd Prize at Boulder duo competition
Morten Lauridsen receives 2018 Half Century Trojans Hall of Fame Award
On Tuesday, October 23rd, noted composer and USC Distinguished Professor Morten Lauridsen was one of six alumni to receive the Half Century Trojans Hall of Fame Award from the USC Alumni Association. The Hall of Fame awards are given each year to alumni who graduated 50+ years ago and exemplify the ideals of the Trojan… Continue reading Morten Lauridsen receives 2018 Half Century Trojans Hall of Fame Award
Cellist Marek Szpakiewicz tours Japan to support Fukushima earthquake victims
Cellist and USC Thornton alumnus Marek Szpakiewicz (DMA ’08), is currently undertaking a two-week performance tour of Japan to support children in the disaster-ravaged region of Fukushima, where an earthquake and tsunami set off a nuclear accident in 2011. Szpakiewicz, who serves as director of String Studies and Chamber Music at Azusa Pacific University, has… Continue reading Cellist Marek Szpakiewicz tours Japan to support Fukushima earthquake victims