Rina Seo premiers composition at Carnegie Hall
USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music program alumna Rina Seo (DMA ‘19) performed her Carnegie Hall debut as a composer, conductor and pianist in collaboration with the Elite Chorus on Oct. 8. She conducted her choral composition “Now” and the English premiere of “Death Will Be Vanquished.”
Laura Leigh Spillane promoted to conductor with the National Children’s Chorus
Third-year choral music doctoral student Laura Leigh Spillane has been promoted to conduct the Concerto Ensemble with the National Children’s Chorus. She was also recently named a part-time faculty member at Saddleback College, where she will serve as director of the Saddleback Chamber Singers.
Daniel Gee named music director of Santa Barbara Youth Symphony
Choral & sacred music alumnus Daniel Gee (MM ’15, DMA ’20) was named music director of the Santa Barbara Youth Symphony. Gee also serves as the director of choral activities and an assistant professor of music at Westmont College in Montecito, California.
Daniel Strychacz named assistant professor at Muskingum University
USC Thornton Department of Choral & Sacred Music alumnus Daniel Strychacz (MM ’15, DMA ’21) has been named an assistant professor of choral music at Muskingum University, a private liberal arts college in New Concord, Ohio.
Phoebe Rosquist leads performances at Berkeley Early Music Festival and Burning Man
USC Thornton Department of Choral & Sacred Music alum Phoebe Rosquist will be conducting several performances of Thomas Tallis’ Spem in alium, a 40-voice Renaissance motet for a capella choirs, at the 17th biennial Berkeley Festival and Exhibition on June 10-11. She will also be facilitating kecak, a chant and dance from Bali, at Burning… Continue reading Phoebe Rosquist leads performances at Berkeley Early Music Festival and Burning Man
Jenny Wong codirects the LA Master Chorale in a program of works by Dale Trumbore, Saunder Choi and Zanaida Robles
USC Thornton Department of Choral & Sacred Music alum Jenny Wong (MM ‘13, DMA ‘17) will be co-directing the Los Angeles Master Chorale on Jan. 30. in City Called Heaven. The program, which takes its name from the famous African American spiritual, will explore themes of homecoming and aspiring toward paradise. It will feature works… Continue reading Jenny Wong codirects the LA Master Chorale in a program of works by Dale Trumbore, Saunder Choi and Zanaida Robles
Jenny Wong conducts a composition by Nina Shekhar with the LA Phil New Music Group
USC Thornton composition alum Nina Shekhar’s (MM ’20) work “Dear Abby” will be performed at Walt Disney Concert Hall Jan. 11 as part of a program highlighting women’s voices and storytelling. Thornton Choral & Sacred Music Department alum Jenny Wong (MM ‘13, DMA ’17) conducts the piece, which examines the impact of enforcing narrow gender… Continue reading Jenny Wong conducts a composition by Nina Shekhar with the LA Phil New Music Group
Thornton students and alumnus accepted into Toronto Mendelssohn Choir’s Choral Conductors’ Symposium
Marcus Desir and Ann Chen, USC Thornton master’s students in choral & sacred music, and Sarah Maria Leung (’15), a Thornton choral & sacred music alumnus, were recently accepted into the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir’s Choral Conductors’ Symposium. Each year, the program selects five emerging conductors to come to Toronto to study with Jean-Sébastien Vallée, the… Continue reading Thornton students and alumnus accepted into Toronto Mendelssohn Choir’s Choral Conductors’ Symposium
Thornton musicians bring holiday cheer to concerts across L.A. area
Thornton faculty, alumni and students are bringing the holiday cheer to Los Angeles County this month and next through a multitude of holiday concerts. The USC Thornton Department of Choral and Sacred Music presents its annual Winter Gala, a special livestreamed event, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. The New Hollywood String Quartet, featuring Thornton Strings… Continue reading Thornton musicians bring holiday cheer to concerts across L.A. area
Alexander Lloyd Blake and David Morales talk new Tonality album on The Kelly Clarkson Show
Earlier this week, Thornton alumni Alexander Lloyd Blake (DMA ‘19), the artistic director of Tonality, and David Morales (MA ’20), a Tonality ensemble member, were interviewed on an episode of The Kelly Clarkson Show. Blake spoke to Kelly about the background of the group and how the 24-voice choir explores stories of social justice and other difficult topics… Continue reading Alexander Lloyd Blake and David Morales talk new Tonality album on The Kelly Clarkson Show