Ethan Sperry named Endowed Professor at Portland State University
USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music alumnus Ethan Sperry (MM ’98, DMA ’00, choral music) has been named an endowed professor at Portland State University (PSU). He is the first to receive the professorship position, formally titled the “Barre Stoll Director of Choral Activities.” Under his direction, the university’s choirs have won multiple awards and… Continue reading Ethan Sperry named Endowed Professor at Portland State University
Jo-Michael Scheibe conducts South Korean choral ensemble
Jo-Michael Scheibe (DMA ‘85), chair of the USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music program, recently completed a week-long residency conducting the Pohang City Choir in Pohang, South Korea. Scheibe is the first non-Korean conductor of the ensemble since its founding 40 years ago. The Pohang City Choir is a 45-member ensemble; one of 33 full-time,… Continue reading Jo-Michael Scheibe conducts South Korean choral ensemble
Irene Apanovitch to present at Canadian choral conference
USC Thornton Choral Music DMA candidate Irene Apanovitch has been invited to present at the June 2018 Podium Conference for Choral Directors in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Her session, “How do singers relate? Uncovering the link between choral singing and empathy,” will explore the impact of emotional empathy on the choral rehearsal process.
Choral doctoral candidates take on leadership roles
Jenny Wong (MM ’13, choral), a DMA candidate in the USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music program, has been promoted to the role of Associate Conductor for the Los Angeles Master Chorale. She has previously served as Assistant Conductor with the ensemble, in addition to her duties as Interim Director of Music at All Saints… Continue reading Choral doctoral candidates take on leadership roles
Jennifer Kampani
Grammy nominated soprano Jennifer Kampani, who “offers a freshness of voice, fineness of timbre, and ease of production that place her in the front rank of early-music sopranos,” (andante.com) is one of the leading interpreters of the Baroque repertoire. She has performed with the Richmond Symphony, Washington Bach Consort, Bach Choir of Bethlehem, and New… Continue reading Jennifer Kampani
Cristian Grases elected to IFCM Executive Council
USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music faculty member Cristian Grases was recently elected to the Executive Council of the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM). Grases was appointed in July while attending the World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona and will serve as one of four Vice Presidents for the group. The IFCM is… Continue reading Cristian Grases elected to IFCM Executive Council
Daniel Gee joins Lilly Graduate Fellow cohort
Daniel Gee (MM ’15), a DMA candidate in the USC Thornton Choral Music program, has been accepted as a Lilly Graduate Fellow. The Lilly Fellows Program in Humanities and the Arts, which includes doctoral students from USC, Yale, Fordham University, among others, hosts conferences and colloquia discussing pedagogical questions in art, music, literature, philosophy, and… Continue reading Daniel Gee joins Lilly Graduate Fellow cohort
Troy Quinn named music director of Owensboro Symphony
USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music alumnus Troy Quinn (DMA ’13) was recently named Music Director of the Owensboro Symphony Orchestra in Owensboro, Kentucky. Quinn, who is also Music Director of Alaska’s Juneau Symphony, will begin his three-year term on October 28th with a performance of Shostakovich’s Festive Overture and Brahms’ Fourth Symphony.
Jenny Wong takes interim post at All Saints Church
Jenny Wong (MM ’13, choral), a DMA candidate in the USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music program, has been named Interim Director of Music at All Saints Church in Pasadena. She adds this to her role as Assistant Conductor of the Los Angeles Master Chorale. A native of Hong Kong, Wong began conducting in 2009… Continue reading Jenny Wong takes interim post at All Saints Church
William Dehning, long-time USC Thornton Choral chair, 1942-2017
Choral conductor and USC Thornton alumnus William Dehning (MA ’67, DMA ’71, choral), who led the department of Choral & Sacred Music as chair from 1992 to 2007, passed away on June 23, 2017. A native of Minnesota, Dehning studied with Ingolf Dahl, Walter Ducloux, Charles C. Hirt, Halsey Stevens and James Vail at USC… Continue reading William Dehning, long-time USC Thornton Choral chair, 1942-2017