Vocal Arts alumnus Timur Bekbosunov featured on PRI’s The World
USC Thornton Vocal Arts alumus Timur Bekbosunov (GCRT ’06) was recently profiled by Public Radio International (PRI) for it’s radio program, The World. The operatic tenor and glam-rock band-leader has found great success in Southern California, performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, REDCAT, wildUp, Long Beach Opera and the Industry –… Continue reading Vocal Arts alumnus Timur Bekbosunov featured on PRI’s The World
Student Vijay Venkatesh to perform in Parnassus Society Award Concert
Vijay Venkatesh (BM ’17, piano performance), currently a student in the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies program under Norman Krieger, is also winning international acclaim as a concert soloist. The Orange County Register recently published a profile of Venkatesh, who will perform at the Soka Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo on August 30 as part… Continue reading Student Vijay Venkatesh to perform in Parnassus Society Award Concert
T.J. Tesh joins fellow trumpet alumnus in U.S. Naval Academy Band
Trumpeter and USC Thornton alumnus T.J. Tesh (DMA ’12) was recently awarded membership in the United States Naval Academy Band, a premiere, Washington D.C.-based military ensemble. Tesh will perform with the organization’s concert band, jazz ensemble, brass quintet, brass ensemble, and ceremonial units. Tesh also joins fellow Thornton alumnus Matt Harriman (DMA ’12, trumpet), who… Continue reading T.J. Tesh joins fellow trumpet alumnus in U.S. Naval Academy Band
Music education and choral alumni win professional awards
Several USC Thornton alumni have won significant awards in recent months. Dr. Lorna Zemke (MM ’68, DMA ’73, music education), formerly the Director of Graduate Music at Silver Lake College in Wisconsin, was awarded the International Katalin Forrai Award by the International Kodaly Society (IKS) for her contributions to Early Childhood Music Education. Fellow Music… Continue reading Music education and choral alumni win professional awards
Alumni take positions with several American orchestras
Several USC Thornton alumni have been awarded orchestral positions. Percussion alumnus Tyler Stell (MM ’12, GCRT ’14) will join the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra as principal timpani, while fellow alumnus Matt Howard (BM ’12) will take a percussion position with the New World Symphony of Miami. Alumna Esther Armendariz (BM ’13, trombone) has won the position… Continue reading Alumni take positions with several American orchestras
Alan Smith premieres composition with Boston Symphony Orchestra
Alan Smith, chair of Keyboard Studies and director of the USC Thornton Keyboard Collaborative Arts program, recently premiered a new composition with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). “I’m Memorizing You,” a work for baritone, cello and piano, was commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the Tanglewood Music Center, the BSO’s summer performance venue, and premiered… Continue reading Alan Smith premieres composition with Boston Symphony Orchestra
Lynn Helding
Lynn Helding serves as Coordinator of Vocology & Voice Pedagogy and studio voice teacher in Vocal Arts at the USC Thornton School of Music. She is the author of The Musician’s Mind: Teaching, Learning & Performance in the Age of Brain Science, the chapter “Brain” in Your Voice: An Inside View 3 by Scott McCoy, and was recently named the new editor-in-chief of… Continue reading Lynn Helding
Professional appointments for Choral students and alumni
Karsten Longhurst (pictured), USC Thornton Choral Music DMA candidate and former co-conductor of the Apollo Men’s Chorus, has taken the position of Director of Choral Studies at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. In addition to his work with several USC ensembles, Longhurst has served as music director for youth and adult choirs for the Church of… Continue reading Professional appointments for Choral students and alumni
Midori Goto featured in Time Magazine profile
USC Thornton distinguished professor of violin Midori Goto was featured in a Time Magazine article profiling exceptional public figures, including Toni Morrison, Warren Buffett, Serena Williams and Meryl Streep. The article noted that Goto headlines 100 concerts each year and has released 16 album recordings since she first became an international soloist at the age… Continue reading Midori Goto featured in Time Magazine profile
Michele Zukovsky, principal Philharmonic clarinetist and USC Thornton faculty, to retire from orchestra
Michele Zukovsky, principal clarinetist of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and a member of the USC Thornton Winds and Percussion faculty, will retire from the L.A. Phil at the end of 2015. Zukovsky joined the orchestra in 1961 at the age of 18 and has performed with the group for 54 years. Early in her tenure,… Continue reading Michele Zukovsky, principal Philharmonic clarinetist and USC Thornton faculty, to retire from orchestra