Matthew Mason premieres piano concerto with Glacier Symphony Orchestra
Piano performance alum and composer Matthew Mason (MM ‘02) will premiere a piano concerto, “Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini,” with the Glacier Symphony Orchestra on February 19 and 20. Pianist and fellow Thornton alum Roger Wright will perform as soloist. The 22-minute piano concerto is a unique take on Sergei Rachmaninoff’s composition of the… Continue reading Matthew Mason premieres piano concerto with Glacier Symphony Orchestra
Rohan Chander nominated for a Gaudeamus Award
Thornton DMA student in composition Rohan Chander has been nominated for a 2022 Gaudeamus Award. This award is one of the most prestigious for composers, and it often produces international recognition for its winners. The five nominees were selected by a jury that consisted of Irish composer Ann Cleare; Chinese composer, pianist and vocalist Huang… Continue reading Rohan Chander nominated for a Gaudeamus Award
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 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
Lenny Hayes receives top prize at Los Angeles Korean-American Musicians’ Association’s 2021 Scholarship Competition
Classical pianist and keyboard studies doctoral student Lenny Hayes received first prize in the 2021 Los Angeles Korean-American Musicians’ Association (LAKMA) Scholarship Competition. The scholarship is awarded annually to college students who are majoring in music. As one of the winners, Hayes will be performing the first movement of the Price concerto with the LAKMA… Continue reading Lenny Hayes receives top prize at Los Angeles Korean-American Musicians’ Association’s 2021 Scholarship Competition
Pardy Minassian receives grant for composition highlighting folk songs of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide
Armenian guitarist Pardy Minassian, a graduate certificate student in the USC Thornton Classical Guitar program, was awarded a project grant from the Calouste Gyukbenkian Foundation for her multimedia series based on forgotten, unpublished Armenian folk songs, which she’s gathered from her father’s collection of interviews with Armenian genocide survivors. Minassian began working on this project… Continue reading Pardy Minassian receives grant for composition highlighting folk songs of the survivors of the Armenian Genocide
Neil Stipp’s “Symphony Capriccio” premiered in Moldova
Earlier this year, Thornton alum Neil Stipp (MM ‘78) had his “Symphony Capriccio” premiered in the capital city of Moldova by the Symphonic Orchestra of the National Philharmonic. A recording of the premiere concert can be found here and is also available on Phasama Music’s “Chisinau 1 — New Music for Orchestra.” Stipp is a… Continue reading Neil Stipp’s “Symphony Capriccio” premiered in Moldova
Alondra Santos featured in Daily Trojan
Alondra Santos, a sophomore in the USC Thornton Vocal Arts program, was recently featured in a Daily Trojan article discussing her background as a mariachi performer and its influence on her artistry as a singer-songwriter. The piece also explores the close student-mentor relationship that Santos has established with vocals arts & opera faculty member Elizabeth… Continue reading Alondra Santos featured in Daily Trojan
Paul Hodgins recognized for coining term ‘choreomusical’ in The Journal of Music Theory
USC Thornton faculty member Paul Hodgins was credited for coining the term “choreomusical” in a recent issue of the Journal of Music Theory. He first used the term in his 1992 doctoral dissertation, which discussed and analyzed the relationship between choreography and music. “Hodgins coined the term choreomusical, which has since been modified by others… Continue reading Paul Hodgins recognized for coining term ‘choreomusical’ in The Journal of Music Theory
USC Thornton Composition faculty members awarded MacDowell Fellowships
USC Thornton Composition faculty members Ted Hearne and Nina C. Young have been awarded fellowships from MacDowell, the nation’s first artist residency program. This fellowship program recognizes artistic excellence across a range of seven disciplines and provides creative individuals with the necessary resources to create “enduring works of the imagination.” Young and Hearne were selected… Continue reading USC Thornton Composition faculty members awarded MacDowell Fellowships