Rainer Crosett wins prestigious Pierre Fournier Cello Award
Cellist Rainer Crosett (GCRT ’17), currently a graduate student of USC Thornton Strings chair Ralph Kirshbaum, has won the 2018 Pierre Fournier Award, one of the top honors in the field. Crosett, the first American cellist to win the Fournier Award, will present a debut recital at London’s Wigmore Hall, a concerto performance with the… Continue reading Rainer Crosett wins prestigious Pierre Fournier Cello Award
Composer, exchange student Tuomas Kettunen shares collaborative work
Finnish composer Tuomas Kettunen, a master’s student at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, recently concluded a semester as an exchange student at USC Thornton, where he studied with Donald Crockett and took classes in orchestration, game scoring, and music technology. Kettunen shared the fruits of his work from the Writer-Composer class, led by Lisa Sylvester,… Continue reading Composer, exchange student Tuomas Kettunen shares collaborative work
Troy Quinn named music director of Venice Symphony
Troy Quinn (DMA ’14), a member of the USC Thornton Conducting faculty and a graduate of the school’s Choral & Sacred Music program, has been selected as music director of the Venice Symphony Orchestra in Venice, Florida. Quinn, who conducted May concerts with the orchestra featuring Thornton faculty member and former concertmaster of the New… Continue reading Troy Quinn named music director of Venice Symphony
Thornton brass musicians join prestigious military ensembles
Two USC Thornton musicians have recently joined bands in the nation’s capital. Jake Kraft (BM ’14) took a trombone position with the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” while trumpeter and masters candidate Seth Johnson joined the United States Navy Concert Band and Ceremonial Band. Johnson described the position with the Navy’s premiere ensemble as… Continue reading Thornton brass musicians join prestigious military ensembles
Daniel Weidlein to release new jazz album
Composer, saxophonist, and producer Daniel Weidlein (BM ’12), a USC Thornton Jazz Studies alumnus, will release his debut album, Fire in the Sky, on June 22nd. A preview single, The Red Line Suite, is now available for purchase. Weidlein will present a special album release concert at the Blue Whale in Los Angeles on June… Continue reading Daniel Weidlein to release new jazz album
Alumnus Ross Golan releases podcast recorded at Thornton
And The Writer Is…, a podcast by multi-platinum songwriter and USC Thornton alumnus Ross Golan (BM ’01, Music Industry), recently released an episode recorded at a Spring 2018 Popular Music Forum, featuring Thornton students and vice dean Chris Sampson. The podcast’s featured guest, GRAMMY-nominated producer Joe London, has released hit singles with Pitbull, Jason Derulo,… Continue reading Alumnus Ross Golan releases podcast recorded at Thornton
Daedelus releases new album
Electronic musician and USC Thornton Jazz Studies alumnus Alfred Darlington (’00), known professionally as Daedelus, has released his 19th studio album, Taut, and will embark on a European and American tour through the end of July. The Barcelona Sónar Festival recently asked the artist to compose a 10-second, interstellar audio track to communicate with a… Continue reading Daedelus releases new album
Students, faculty, and alumni featured in Mozart summer festivals
USC Thornton students, faculty, and alumni will be featured in Mozart festivals on both coasts this summer. Beginning June 1st, the Mainly Mozart Festival takes over venues across San Diego County for its 30th anniversary season. On June 7th, Martin Chalifour, Thornton faculty member and concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, teams with classical guitarist… Continue reading Students, faculty, and alumni featured in Mozart summer festivals
Sarah Gibson receives LACO Sound Investment commission
Sarah Gibson (MM ’10, DMA ’15), a USC Thornton alumna and a member of the school’s Composition faculty, has been selected as Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s Sound Investment composer for the 2018-19 season. Previous recipients of Sound Investment commissions include Ted Hearne, Matthew Aucoin, Ellen Reid, and Andrew Norman, now LACO’s creative advisor & composer-in-residence.… Continue reading Sarah Gibson receives LACO Sound Investment commission
Molly Miller pens article for Premier Guitar
A sought-after Los Angeles guitarist, USC Thornton Studio Guitar alumna Molly Miller (BM ’11, DMA ’16) was recently published in Premier Guitar, in the first article of an ongoing series. Her piece, entitled “Dr. Molly’s Guitar Lab: The Badass Riffs of Sister Rosetta Tharpe,” breaks down the compositional patterns behind the “Original Soul Sister’s” distinctive… Continue reading Molly Miller pens article for Premier Guitar