Andrew Norman’s “Release” reviewed by Los Angeles Times
Composition faculty and USC Thornton alumnus Andrew Norman was praised by the Los Angeles Times for his composition “Release,” which premiered at the Walt Disney Concert Hall May 1. Reviewer Mark Swed called the work “wonderfully fresh,” and noted that the piece’s “climaxes rose and fell like the deep breaths of Zen monks meditating in… Continue reading Andrew Norman’s “Release” reviewed by Los Angeles Times
Andrew Norman to premiere new work with Los Angeles Philharmonic
Alumnus and Composition faculty Andrew Norman will premiere his latest piece, “Release,” with Emanuel Ax and the Los Angeles Philharmonic on May 1 and 3. The piece will be performed at the LA Phil’s “Ax Brahms Project: Ax & Dudamel” program at Walt Disney Concert Hall. Lucinda Carver, vice dean of the Classical Performance &… Continue reading Andrew Norman to premiere new work with Los Angeles Philharmonic
USC Thornton alumni receive ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Awards
Alumni Eric Guinivan and Sarah Rimkus were recipients of the 2014 ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Awards. The program provides recognition and cash awards to talented young composers in the concert music field. The recipients will be recognized at the annual ASCAP Concert Music Awards at Merkin Concert Hall in New York on May… Continue reading USC Thornton alumni receive ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Awards
The Calder Quartet awarded Avery Fisher Career Grant
The Calder Quartet (Benjamin Jacobson, violin; Andrew Bulbrook, violin; Jonathan Moerschel, viola; Eric Byers, cello) was named as one of the recipients of the Avery Fisher Career Grants for 2014. The grants give professional assistance to instrumentalists judged to have exceptional career potential. Founded at USC, the Calder Quartet is known for the discovery, commissioning,… Continue reading The Calder Quartet awarded Avery Fisher Career Grant
Kathleen Grace’s album “No Place to Fall” receives positive reviews
Arizona Daily Star featured No Place to Fall, the latest album by Kathleen Grace, USC Thornton alumna and current Jazz Studies faculty. The album was recorded with Grammy-winning producer Sheldon Gomberg. Though Grace has a jazz background, No Place to Fall features some songs with a more country and folk appeal inspired by her Tucson… Continue reading Kathleen Grace’s album “No Place to Fall” receives positive reviews
Garry Schyman wins British Academy of Film and Television Arts award
Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television faculty Garry Schyman won the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award for his work on the video game Bioshock Infinite. Schyman has also received the D.I.C.E. award for “Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition” from the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences in addition to the… Continue reading Garry Schyman wins British Academy of Film and Television Arts award
Alumna Jessica Cheng discusses freelancing and auditions
close As part of a new series documenting USC Thornton alumni, violinist Jessica Cheng, BM ’04, MM ’06, talks about the advantages of studying in Los Angeles and the freelancing opportunities for musicians. Currently the first violinist with the St. Louis Symphony, she walks us through the audition process and her elation at being selected.
Bear McCreary, Calder Quartet profiled by LA Times
USC Thornton alumnus Bear McCreary and the Calder Quartet — comprised of alumni Benjamin Jacobson, Andrew Bulbrook, Jonathan Moerschel and Eric Byers — were interviewed by the Los Angeles Times for a feature on McCreary’s work as the composer for the Starz series “Da Vinci’s Demons.” McCreary and the members of the Calder Quartet met while freshmen at USC… Continue reading Bear McCreary, Calder Quartet profiled by LA Times
Ambrose Akinmusire profiled by NPR Music, DownBeat Magazine
Jazz Studies faculty and USC Thornton alumnus Ambrose Akinmusire was recently interviewed by NPR Music to promote the release of his upcoming album, the imagined savior is far easier to paint. Akinmusire is also features on the cover of the April 2014 edition of DownBeat Magazine.
Morten Lauridsen interviewed by Southern California blog ‘All Is Yar’
USC Distinguished Professor of Composition Morten Lauridsen was recently interviewed by CK Dexter Haven for the Southern California culture blog All Is Yar. Lauridsen’s longstanding relationship with USC Thornton and USC at-large was a major focus of the piece, with Lauridsen comparing his time as a USC student in the 1960s with the experiences of… Continue reading Morten Lauridsen interviewed by Southern California blog ‘All Is Yar’