Thornton students and alums give MAX’s “Gibberish” an orchestral edge
MAX, a rising star in popular music, featured a cast comprised almost exclusively of USC Thornton student musicians in a video for his newest single, “Gibberish.” In addition to the many Thornton students performing in the video, the orchestral arrangement is the result of a collaboration between MAX and Zi Zhu Zhao (MM ’16, piano),… Continue reading Thornton students and alums give MAX’s “Gibberish” an orchestral edge
SMPTV alum Ramesh Kumar Kannan and faculty Bruce Broughton nominated for awards
A score by Ramesh Kumar Kannan (GCRT ’13), alumnus of the USC Thornton Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television (SMPTV) program, for the independent film Labyrinth, has been nominated for the Hollywood Music in Media awards. SMTPV faculty member Bruce Broughton was also nominated for the score for the series Texas Rising, which he co-wrote… Continue reading SMPTV alum Ramesh Kumar Kannan and faculty Bruce Broughton nominated for awards
Composer and alumnus Alan Chan awarded George Duke Commissioning Prize
USC Thornton Composition alumnus Alan Chan (DMA ’08) was selected as the recipient of George Duke Commissioning Prize, co-created by the Symphonic Jazz Orchestra and The ASCAP Foundation to honor the trailblazing musician, George Duke. Alan Chan’s music has been recognized with awards and fellowships from the American Composers Forum, New Music USA, and the… Continue reading Composer and alumnus Alan Chan awarded George Duke Commissioning Prize
Singer-songwriter Peter Bradley Adams featured in Oklahoma concert
Singer-songwriter Peter Bradley Adams, a non-degreed USC Thornton alumnus, will be the featured performer at the Norman, Oklahoma, Winter Wind Concert this week. A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Adams was drawn to Los Angeles in the mid-90s to study at USC Thornton’s famed Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television (SMPTV) program. He has since become… Continue reading Singer-songwriter Peter Bradley Adams featured in Oklahoma concert
Composition students and alums win orchestral competitions
USC Thornton Composition students and alumni continue to garner accolades. Two major Midwestern orchestras will feature compositions by USC students and alumni. “Even in Paradise,” by Patrick O’Malley (MM ’15, DMA candidate), and “Kaman Fantasy,” by Saad Haddad (BM, ’14), will be performed as part of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra’s Earshot program, under the baton… Continue reading Composition students and alums win orchestral competitions
Scott Jeppesen releases second album with help from jazz alumni, faculty
USC Thornton Jazz Studies alumnus and DMA candidate, Scott Jeppesen (MM ’08), celebrates the release of his second album, “Wonders,” which features original compositions that were inspired by the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. The recording includes Jeppesen and fellow Thornton alumni Larry Koonse (’84, jazz) on guitar and Dan Schnelle (’05, jazz) on… Continue reading Scott Jeppesen releases second album with help from jazz alumni, faculty
Alumnus Cameron O’Connor wins Frances Walton Competition
This past summer, classical guitarist and alumnus Cameron O’Connor (DMA ’14) was one of four soloist award winners of the Frances Walton Competition in Seattle, WA. The competition is open to classical performers of piano, voice, strings and wind instruments, who are residents or students in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, California or Alaska. Soloist winners… Continue reading Alumnus Cameron O’Connor wins Frances Walton Competition
Alumnus Cody Westheimer scores new IMAX film
USC Thornton alumnus Cody Westheimer (BM ’01, composition) scored the music for the new IMAX film, “Journey to Space 3D,” which premiered at the California Science Center in Los Angeles last week. For the premiere event, Westheimer conducted student members of the USC Thornton Symphony in sections of the film score, in the shadow of… Continue reading Alumnus Cody Westheimer scores new IMAX film
Alumnus Terry Carter releases second educational music app
USC Thornton Studio/Jazz Guitar alumnus Terry Carter (MM ’02), a Los Angeles-based guitarist, producer and educator, has released a new mobile app to parallel his Rock Like the Pro’s guitar book series. Users of the Rock Like the Pro’s app will have access to over 300 videos and lessons that cover the logistics of learning… Continue reading Alumnus Terry Carter releases second educational music app
Composer alum Karim Elmahmoudi undertakes Minnesota residency
Karim Elmahmoudi (’07), an alumnus of the USC Thornton Composition program, has completed a guest composer residency with the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra in Wayzata, Minnesota. Following a weeklong visit in September, during which Elmahmoudi met with Wayzata students and audiences to discuss his creative process, the Wayzata Symphony presented his work, Orbit: A Symphonic Fantasy,… Continue reading Composer alum Karim Elmahmoudi undertakes Minnesota residency