USC Thornton Classical Guitar faculty William Kanengiser, Brian Head featured in educational video
USC Thornton Classical Guitar faculty and alumnus William Kanengiser was recently featured in an educational video for Classical Guitar Tone Production. Brian Head, chair of the Classical Guitar Program, provides the narration for the video. The tutorial, titled “Learning with Legends,” focuses on the various ways musicians can create “a good tone” when playing classical guitar.… Continue reading USC Thornton Classical Guitar faculty William Kanengiser, Brian Head featured in educational video
Grant Fonda (GCRT, ’13) selected to participate in ASCAP TV & Film Scoring Workshop
Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television alumnus Grant Fonda (GCRT, ’13) was one of the 12 internationally selected applicants to participate in the ASCAP TV & Film Scoring Workshop with EMMY Award-winning composer, Richard Bellis. Fonda also composed the score for the film My Dear Americans, which won first place in the 2014 PBS Online Film… Continue reading Grant Fonda (GCRT, ’13) selected to participate in ASCAP TV & Film Scoring Workshop
USC Thornton Wind and Percussion faculty Kristy Morrell publishes first instructional guide
Current USC Thornton Wind and Percussion faculty Kristy Morrell (MM ’94, DMA ’97) recently published Musician, Heal Thyself, A Self-Help Guide for Hornists. The book contains a multitude of resources for hornists, including: an assemblage of drills and exercises; strategies for efficient practice and problem solving; injury prevention and musical wellness; audition preparation; and how to manage performance anxiety. Morrell’s… Continue reading USC Thornton Wind and Percussion faculty Kristy Morrell publishes first instructional guide
Sophisticated Lady Jazz Quartet, featuring Jazz Studies alumni, release debut album
Sophisticated Lady Jazz Quartet – which features USC Thornton alumni Andrew Boyle (BM ’12, MM ’14), Misha Adair Bigos (MM, ’14), JJ Kirkpatrick (MM, ’14), and Gary Wicks (MM, ’13) – released their debut album in September 2014 via Yarlung Records. The self-titled album was recorded on campus at USC’s Brain and Creativity Institute in Camilleri Hall and was praised by The… Continue reading Sophisticated Lady Jazz Quartet, featuring Jazz Studies alumni, release debut album
Morten Lauridsen honored at “Shining Night Festival” in Toronto
USC Distinguished Professor of Composition and USC Thornton School of Music alumnus Morten Lauridsen was the subject of a recent day-long festival held at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church in Toronto, Canada. The Shining Night Festival, which took place on October 25, included a gala concert, a screening of the 2012 Lauridsen documentary Shining Night, and a one-on-one conversation with… Continue reading Morten Lauridsen honored at “Shining Night Festival” in Toronto
Weicheng Zhao and Fang Gao to perform at Calgary Organ Festival and Symposium
Current USC Thornton doctoral candidate Weicheng Zhao (MM ’14, DMA ’16) is one of two organists to perform on the Young Artists’ Platform during the Calgary Organ Festival and Symposium. His wife Fang Gao (GCRT, ’16), who is currently a student in the Early Music program, will join him in a concert at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer in… Continue reading Weicheng Zhao and Fang Gao to perform at Calgary Organ Festival and Symposium
Leland Sun (BM ’86, MM ’91) to perform works by Ren-Liang Wong (MM, ’83) at Tianjin Conservatory of Music
Leland Sun (BM ’86, MM ’91) will perform in a retrospective of works by fellow USC Thornton alumnus Ren-Liang Wong (MM, ’83) at the Tianjin Conservatory of Music in Tianjin, China on November 12. This concert will feature works written following the composer’s immigration to the United States including Six Sketches (1983), which Sun premiered at USC,… Continue reading Leland Sun (BM ’86, MM ’91) to perform works by Ren-Liang Wong (MM, ’83) at Tianjin Conservatory of Music
Francine Nguyen-Savaria (GCRT, ’13) to perform at Calgary Organ Festival and Symposium
Francine Nguyen-Savaria (GCRT, ’13) is one of two organists selected to perform on the Young Artists’ Platform during the Calgary Organ Festival and Symposium in Canada. She will perform the complete works for organ by Brahms over two recitals: at the Cathedral Church of the Redeemer in Calgary on October 29, and at the Wyatt Recital… Continue reading Francine Nguyen-Savaria (GCRT, ’13) to perform at Calgary Organ Festival and Symposium
Bradley Sroka (PhD, ’14) participates in USC research on popular music
Bradley Sroka (PhD, ’14) led a team of USC Thornton graduate students in a project that analyzed the psychology of music and what makes a “hit song.” The researchers analyzed over a thousand No. 1 songs on Billboard magazine’s Hot 100 list between 1958 and 2012, in addition to the 1,451 songs that never climbed above No.… Continue reading Bradley Sroka (PhD, ’14) participates in USC research on popular music
Tess Remy-Schumacher (MM ’89, DMA ’98) co-founds Center for Historical Performance at the University of Central Oklahoma
Tess Remy-Schumacher (MM ’89, DMA ’98) co-founded the first Center for Historical Performance at the University of Central Oklahoma with Dr. Ted Honea. Remy-Schumacher, who first attended USC Thornton as a Fulbright Scholar, completed her doctoral studies in Cello Performance under the supervision of celebrated USC Thornton faculty, the late Eleonore Schoenfeld. Remy-Schumacher currently serves as Professor… Continue reading Tess Remy-Schumacher (MM ’89, DMA ’98) co-founds Center for Historical Performance at the University of Central Oklahoma