Gretchen Parlato wins 2022 German Jazz Prize
USC Thornton alumna and GRAMMY-nominated composer and vocalist Gretchen Parlato recently won a German Jazz Prize for Vocal Album of the Year (International) at Deutscher Jazzpreis 2022 for her album Flor. The Deutscher Jazzpreis aims to highlight the diversity and creativity of the German jazz scene and honors exceptional, artistic and innovative achievements in a… Continue reading Gretchen Parlato wins 2022 German Jazz Prize
Donald Crockett conducts piano quartet of Thornton alumni and faculty for MicroFest at The Wende Museum
USC Thornton Composition Program Chair Donald Crockett will conduct USC Thornton alumni Vicki Ray (DMA ’88), Steven Vanhauwaert (MM ’06, GCRT ’08) and Sarah Gibson (MM ’10, DMA ’15) and Thornton faculty member Aron Kallay in Ivan Wyschnegradsky’s “Music for Four Quarter-Tone Pianos” at MicroFest on June 3 at the Wende Museum. MicroFest is the… Continue reading Donald Crockett conducts piano quartet of Thornton alumni and faculty for MicroFest at The Wende Museum
David Riccobono joins St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
David Riccobono (MM ’19), an alumnus of the USC Thornton Winds & Percussion Department and a current graduate certificate student, will be joining the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra as the associate principal timpani and section percussion. Riccobono has previously played with groups such as the Long Beach Symphony, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Malaysian Philharmonic… Continue reading David Riccobono joins St. Louis Symphony Orchestra
Tehillah Alphonso interviewed by Broadway World
USC Thornton alumna Tehillah Alphonso (’20) was recently interviewed by Broadway World, where she discussed her first GRAMMY nomination, some of her favorite projects that she’s worked on and her process for arranging songs. She also shared some advice for people of color and women looking to break into the music industry. “Whatever you’re passionate… Continue reading Tehillah Alphonso interviewed by Broadway World
Thornton students and alumni win at Virginia Waring International Piano Competition
Several USC Thornton students and alumni won awards in the 2022 Virginia Waring International Piano Competition. Christopher Richardson, a master’s student in the Thornton Keyboard Studies program, won second place in the concerto division. Keyboard studies DMA candidate Andrew Boyle and USC Thornton alumnus Benjamin Hopkins (BM ’12, GC ’14, MM ’16) also won solo… Continue reading Thornton students and alumni win at Virginia Waring International Piano Competition
Eliza Petrosyan on tour with Tora-i
USC Thornton Popular Music program student and guitarist Eliza Petrosyan is currently on tour with R&B artist Tora-i, who is opening for Omar Apollo. Petrosyan has previously played with artists WizTheMC and Anna Duboc.
Music of Remembrance premieres new work by Nicolas Lell Benavides
On May 15, Music of Remembrance presents the world premiere of Tres Minutos, a one-act opera by Thornton composition doctoral student Nicolas Lell Benavides and librettist Marella Martin Koch, with dramaturg Hector Vega. The opera follows the story of a sister and a brother who wrestle with questions of identity, duty and belonging during their… Continue reading Music of Remembrance premieres new work by Nicolas Lell Benavides
Giovanni Santos (MM ’07) has new work premiered by Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble
This month, the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble will premiere Thornton alum Giovanni Santos’ (MM ‘07) new saxophone concerto, “I Dream Awake,” with soloist and fellow alumnus Andrew Harrison. Santos currently serves as the director of wind and percussion studies at La Sierra University, where he directs the University Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds and Big… Continue reading Giovanni Santos (MM ’07) has new work premiered by Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble
Paul Anka speaks to students at USC Thornton’s Popular Music Forum
Legendary songwriter Paul Anka spoke to students at USC Thornton’s Popular Music Forum on April 22 during a Master Session put on by USC Thornton and the Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF). Popular Music Program Chair and SHOF board member Patrice Rushen moderated the conversation. During the session, Anka discussed how he got started in… Continue reading Paul Anka speaks to students at USC Thornton’s Popular Music Forum
LA Phil performs piece by alumnus and former Thornton Composition program faculty member Andrew Norman
The LA Phil will perform Play: Level 1, a work by USC Thornton alumnus and former composition program faculty member Andrew Norman, on April 23 and 24. This pair of concerts is part of the LA Phil’s Gen X Festival, a series that takes a “multidisciplinary, multi-genre look at the slackers, hackers and latch-key kids… Continue reading LA Phil performs piece by alumnus and former Thornton Composition program faculty member Andrew Norman