Strong USC Thornton showing in LA Phil’s 2017-18 season
The Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) recently announced its 2017-18 concert season, which includes featured performances by numerous USC Thornton faculty and alumni. In December, the Calder Quartet, which includes Thornton alumni Benjamin Jacobson (BM’01, MM’07, violin), Andrew Bulbrook (BM ’02, violin), Jonathan Moerschel (BM ’01, MM ’03, viola) and Eric Byers (BM ’03, cello),… Continue reading Strong USC Thornton showing in LA Phil’s 2017-18 season
Grant Gershon to conduct Hoffmann at LA Opera
USC Thornton alumnus and Board of Councilors member Grant Gershon (’85, piano) will conduct LA Opera’s production of The Tales of Hoffmann on April 6th. Gershon, Resident Conductor and a long-time Chorus Master of the company, will step in for LA Opera’s General Director Plácido Domingo, who will be conducting the remainder of the production’s… Continue reading Grant Gershon to conduct Hoffmann at LA Opera
Thornton Choral & Sacred Music program strongly represented at ACDA conference
Irene Apanovitch, a doctoral candidate in the USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music program, recently took the podium as a semi-finalist at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Graduate Choral Conducting Competition. One of only eight conductors selected for this honor, Apanovitch currently serves as the Teaching Assistant and lead conductor for Thornton’s Oriana Women’s… Continue reading Thornton Choral & Sacred Music program strongly represented at ACDA conference
Cynthia Phelps presents all-French trio program
Violist and USC Thornton alumna Cynthia Phelps recently performed with the Les Amies Trio for the San Antonio Chamber Music Society’s 74th season. The Trio, which included harpist Nancy Allen and flutist Carol Wincec, presented an all-French program, including Jacques Ibert’s Deux Interludes suivi de Carillon and Arnold Bax’s Elegiac Trio, as well as works… Continue reading Cynthia Phelps presents all-French trio program
Bassist Owen Levine joins Colorado Symphony
USC Thornton Strings alumnus Owen Levine (MM ‘09) recently won a section bass position with the Colorado Symphony. Levine previously performed as a Fellow with the New World Symphony.
Alumna guitarist Eva Beneke to perform with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
USC Thornton Classical Guitar alumna Eva Beneke (DMA ’12) will perform with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra on Saturday, March 11th. The concert will include the U.S. premiere of Sarah Kirkland Snider’s Unremembered, an “hour-long, 13-part song cycle inspired by poems and illustrations by Nathaniel Bellows.” Beneke is currently the artistic director for Lowertown Classics,… Continue reading Alumna guitarist Eva Beneke to perform with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Alumnus Ray Zepeda presents a Milton Babbitt tribute concert
Saxophonist Ray Zepeda (MM ’98, Jazz Studies), founder and artistic director of the Bakersfield New Music Collective, recently organized a tribute concert for the serial composer, Milton Babbitt. The free event, entitled “Re-Imagining Milton Babbitt: A Centennial Celebration for an Exceptional American,” took place at The Mark in downtown Bakersfield and featured seminal pieces by… Continue reading Alumnus Ray Zepeda presents a Milton Babbitt tribute concert
Alumni arrange and score for Paramount’s “XXX: Return of Xander Cage”
USC Thornton Screen Scoring alumni Robert Lydecker (BM ’08, film scoring, GCRT ‘09, SMPTV), Kenny Wood (GCRT ‘09, SMPTV) and Harrison Lee (GCRT ’12, SMPTV) worked on the score for Paramount’s new film XXX: Return of Xander Cage, which was released this past January. Wood and Lee served as arrangers on the project, while Lydecker… Continue reading Alumni arrange and score for Paramount’s “XXX: Return of Xander Cage”
Thornton percussionists take center stage in LA Phil’s Reich tribute
On January 17, several alumni and USC Thornton Percussion faculty celebrated legendary composer Steve Reich’s 80th birthday in a special Green Umbrella concert with the Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil). Faculty member James Babor joined alumni Jeffrey Grant (GCRT ’14), Nick Terry (DMA ’11), and Matthew Howard (’12), who is principal percussionist for the LA… Continue reading Thornton percussionists take center stage in LA Phil’s Reich tribute
Alumna, jazz violinist Nora Germain authors new book
Jazz violinist and USC Thornton alumna Nora Germain (’14) recently authored a book entitled, Go For It… Surviving the Challenges of Becoming an Artist. Presented as vignettes from Germain’s professional life story, the book strives to encourage young artists to find their entrepreneurial spirit. In a video on her website, Germain said, “I discuss issues… Continue reading Alumna, jazz violinist Nora Germain authors new book