Grammy-winning TV and film composer Perry Botkin Jr. dies at 87
Perry Botkin Jr., a GRAMMY Award-winning and Oscar-nominated television and film composer, and alumnus of USC Thornton, died on January 18 at the age of 87. The acclaimed arranger was well-known for his composition of the themes to “Happy Days,” “Mork and Mindy,” and “The Young and the Restless.” Botkin’s musical career began when he… Continue reading Grammy-winning TV and film composer Perry Botkin Jr. dies at 87
Gerald Clayton scores new documentary about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
GRAMMY Award-nominated composer, pianist and USC Thornton alum Gerald Clayton (BM ‘07) wrote the score for “MLK/FBI,” a newly released award-winning documentary directed by Sam Pollard that uncovers the extent of the FBI’s targeted surveillance and harassment of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sub Pop described Clayton’s composition of the documentary’s theme as “a gorgeous,… Continue reading Gerald Clayton scores new documentary about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Chris O’Brien wins position with U.S. Navy Band
Chris O’Brien (GCRT ’20), a trumpeter and alum of USC Thornton’s Winds & Percussion program, has won a position with the U.S. Navy Band. He is one of many Thornton alumni to join the prestigious band. O’Brien is also a co-founder and current member of Two Button Brass, a Los Angeles-based brass quintet founded by… Continue reading Chris O’Brien wins position with U.S. Navy Band
Dale Trumbore shares virtual chorus experience in The Voice of OC
Dale Trumbore (MM ‘11), an alum of USC Thornton’s Composition program, was featured in The Voice of OC in an article about how the Orange County Women’s Chorus adapted its programming to offer unique online events. Trumbore was commissioned to compose a new piece, “What We Hand Over,” for the chorus’s holiday event, and shares… Continue reading Dale Trumbore shares virtual chorus experience in The Voice of OC
Peter Boyer composes music for presidential inauguration
Composer and USC Thornton alum Peter Boyer (GCRT ’96) received the honor of composing a new piece for the festivities surrounding the Jan. 20 inauguration of President Joe Biden. Boyer was featured in the Los Angeles Times in a story about the significance of the commission. Titled “Fanfare for Tomorrow,” the piece was commissioned to… Continue reading Peter Boyer composes music for presidential inauguration
Jerry Blackstone is artistic director of new documentary series about choral singing
Dr. Jerry Blackstone (DMA ‘86), GRAMMY Award-winner, USC Thornton alumnus, and former Artist in Residence with Thornton’s Choral & Sacred Music program, is the Artistic Director of the upcoming documentary series about choral singing in the U.S., “Choral Singing in America: Nurturing the Human Soul.” The series is being developed in response to the COVID-19… Continue reading Jerry Blackstone is artistic director of new documentary series about choral singing
Judith Farmer releases new album of chamber music for bassoon
Winds & Percussion faculty member Judith Farmer has released a new album of chamber music for bassoon, Judith Farmer Plays Favorites. The album includes performances by Strings faculty member Andrew Shulman and alum Vicki Ray (DMA ’88), as well as a recording of a piece by alum composer Gernot Wolfgang (GCRT ’94). The album is… Continue reading Judith Farmer releases new album of chamber music for bassoon
Marilyn Horne to receive Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award
USC Thornton alumna Marilyn Horne was recently announced as one of the Recording Academy’s 2021 Lifetime Achievement Award honorees. Horne is widely celebrated as one of the world’s most renowned opera singers. Her decades-spanning career has earned her four GRAMMY Awards and 15 nominations, as well as a 1992 National Medal of Arts and numerous… Continue reading Marilyn Horne to receive Recording Academy’s Lifetime Achievement Award
Jensen McRae’s “Wolves” named one of KCRW’s Best of 2020
In KCRW’s roundup of some of the best music of 2020, Popular Music alum Jensen McRae’s (BM ’19) 2020 release, “Wolves,” was named among the top 15 songs most loved by the station’s DJs. “Wolves” is one of a few songs McRae has released ahead of her first full length album, expected to release later… Continue reading Jensen McRae’s “Wolves” named one of KCRW’s Best of 2020
Jermaine Stegall featured on The Star Wars Show
Screen Scoring alum Jermaine Stegall (GCRT ’04) was interviewed in a special segment of “The Star Wars Show” about the composer’s work on “Our Star Wars Stories,” a digital series about the devoted fans of Star Wars. Stegall’s connection to the Star Wars universe began when he attended a composing lab at Skywalker Ranch, which… Continue reading Jermaine Stegall featured on The Star Wars Show