Yewon Lee appointed Music Director of San Diego Festival Chorus
Emerging conductor Yewon Lee will take the lead at the San Diego Festival Chorus as the newly appointed Music Director. Lee, a who is pursuing a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Music at USC Thornton, has garnered recognition for her work with the Baldwin Wallace Opera Theater and the National Opera Center in New… Continue reading Yewon Lee appointed Music Director of San Diego Festival Chorus
Ken Cazan directs largest opera in history of Central City Opera House
Last month, Ken Cazan, the Resident Stage Director of the USC Thornton Opera, directed the Central City Opera’s Colorado debut of Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd. CBS Denver featured a story of the performance, which with its 60 performers was the biggest show in the 140-year history of the Central City Opera House. “It’s more thrilling… Continue reading Ken Cazan directs largest opera in history of Central City Opera House
USC Thornton community honors Alice Schoenfeld
On Sunday, July 28, the USC Thornton community celebrated the life of acclaimed violinist, teacher and philanthropist Alice Schoenfeld, Emerita Professor of Violin at USC Thornton, who died last May. Of those in attendance, over 50 were former students of Alice or her sister Eleanor Schoenfeld, who was also a longtime USC Thornton professor of… Continue reading USC Thornton community honors Alice Schoenfeld
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet showcased in Jackson Hole News and Guide
The GRAMMY Award-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, which features USC Thornton faculty members Scott Tenant and Bill Kanengiser, USC Thornton alumnus Matthew Greif (MM’92), and John Dearman, was recently showcased by the Jackson Hole News and Guide. The article discusses how the celebrated group that has a 15-title discography has managed to stay together for… Continue reading Los Angeles Guitar Quartet showcased in Jackson Hole News and Guide
Billy Childs to join Berklee as visiting scholar
USC Thornton alumnus and celebrated jazz musician Billy Childs ’79 will serve as a visiting scholar at Berklee College of Music for the 2019-20 academic year. During his stint in Boston, Childs, a five-time GRAMMY award recipient, will teach jazz composition classes, coach a student ensemble and offer master classes.
Heesong Lee places second in international choral competition
Heeseong Lee, a doctoral candidate in USC Thornton’s Choral & Sacred Music program, recently placed second in the 2019 World Choral Conducting Competition. The native of South Korea stood out in a field that included contestants from 29 countries. In addition to a cash prize, Lee also received the opportunity to study with choral conducting… Continue reading Heesong Lee places second in international choral competition
Calder Quartet releases new album
The Calder Quartet, comprised of USC Thornton alumni – violinists Benjamin Jacobson (’01, MM ’07) and Andrew Bulbrook (’02), violist Jonathan Moerschel (’01, MM ’03), and cellist Eric Byers (’03), has released a new album on Pentatone Records. Beethoven Hillborg includes recordings of Beethoven’s String Quartets No. 3 in D Major Op. 18 No. 3… Continue reading Calder Quartet releases new album
Strauss Shi to solo with Pacific Symphony
Violinist and USC Thornton Master’s of Music student Strauss Shi will be a featured soloist in the Pacific Symphony’s Symphony in the Cities series. Carl St.Clair, the Music Director of the Pacific Symphony and Artistic Leader and Principal Conductor of the USC Thornton Orchestras, will conduct the four concerts that will take place over two… Continue reading Strauss Shi to solo with Pacific Symphony
Morten Lauridsen nominated for an Opus Klassik Award
Morten Lauridsen, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Composition at USC Thornton, recently received a nomination in the Best Choral Recording category of the 2019 Opus Klassik Awards, Germany’s premier classical awards, for “Light Eternal – The Choral Music of Morten Lauridsen.” The recording, which was conducted by Nicol Matt and performed by the Chamber Choir of… Continue reading Morten Lauridsen nominated for an Opus Klassik Award
David Riccobono wins Principal Percussion position with the Long Beach Symphony
USC Thornton alumni performed spectacularly well at the recent Long Beach Symphony audition. David Riccobono (MM ’19) won the Principal Percussion position while Jeff Grant (GCRT ’14) placed second. Riccobono, who received his Bachelor’s degree from UCLA in 2017, studied with Los Angeles Philharmonic percussionists and USC Thornton faculty members Joseph Pereira and James Babor… Continue reading David Riccobono wins Principal Percussion position with the Long Beach Symphony