ArcoStrum perform in “Musicians on the Rise” concert at Kaufman Music Center
USC Thornton DMA candidate in Classical Guitar Tengyue (Ty) Zhang and Strings program alumnus Strauss Shi (MM ’19), now known as ArcoStrum, performed at the Kaufman Music Center on April 4 as part of the “Musicians on the Rise” concert series. The violin-guitar duo reimagines Chinese traditional music, modern rock and classical masterworks. ArcoStrum was… Continue reading ArcoStrum perform in “Musicians on the Rise” concert at Kaufman Music Center
Mak Grgić’s company, Notey, receives InnoVision Award for Education and Technology
Mak Grgić (MM ’12, DMA ’16, GCRT ’20), a Grammy-nominated guitarist and USC Thornton Arts Leadership alumnus, received the InnoVision Award for Education and Technology for Notey, the startup company he co-founded in 2022. The company also includes USC alumni Adithya Bellathur, Jack Bailey and Andrew Hulin. Notey is an AI-based music education company that… Continue reading Mak Grgić’s company, Notey, receives InnoVision Award for Education and Technology
Jazz guitarist Tomas Janzon tours for Nomadic album
Tomas Janzon (MM ‘00), a jazz guitarist and USC Thornton Classical Guitar program alumnus, was on tour for his 2022 album, Nomadic. The Tomas Janzon Quartet, featuring bassist Jeff Littleton, drummer Donald Dean and pianist Jamael Dean, played their latest show on October 6 at LACMA. Nomadic is available on Bandcamp, Spotify and Apple Music.… Continue reading Jazz guitarist Tomas Janzon tours for Nomadic album
Gregg Field featured in CBS Sunday Morning segment on Henry Mancini
USC Thornton Board of Councilors Chair Gregg Field was featured in a new CBS Sunday Morning segment on the late composer Henry Mancini. Field discussed the fame of Mancini’s film and television music, such as the ubiquitous “Pink Panther Theme” and “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The segment included a recording session of his… Continue reading Gregg Field featured in CBS Sunday Morning segment on Henry Mancini
Bokyung Byun joins University of North Texas College of Music faculty
USC Thornton Classical Guitar program alumna Bokyung Byun (DMA ’20) has joined the University of North Texas College of Music as an assistant professor of guitar. Byun is the recepient of the 2023 Avery Fisher Career Grant. In 2021, she became the first woman in 20 years to win the Guitar Foundation of America competition.… Continue reading Bokyung Byun joins University of North Texas College of Music faculty
Alex Park to perform concerto by Elmer Bernstein with Culver City Symphony Orchestra
Alex Park, a doctoral candidate in the USC Thornton Classical Guitar program, will perform Elmer Bernstein’s Concerto for Guitar & Orchestra – “For Two Christophers” with the Culver City Symphony Orchestra on June 24. The orchestra will be conducted by Steven Allen Fox (GCRT ’00), who studied with the late Bernstein, a luminary of Thornton’s… Continue reading Alex Park to perform concerto by Elmer Bernstein with Culver City Symphony Orchestra
Tengyue (TY) Zhang and Strauss Shi of The Bestfriends Duo win 2023 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition
USC Thornton DMA candidate in Classical Guitar Tengyue (Ty) Zhang and Strings program alumnus Strauss Shi (MM ’19) were announced as winners in the 2023 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition. The award has earned them joint international representation by the Concert Artists Guild and Young Classical Artists Trust, performances at Merkin Hall in New… Continue reading Tengyue (TY) Zhang and Strauss Shi of The Bestfriends Duo win 2023 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition
Bill Kanengiser and Alexander Strings Quartet release British rock tribute album “British Invasion”
Classical guitarist and USC Thornton faculty member Bill Kanengiser has collaborated with the Alexander String Quartet for the album “British Invasion,” released on April 7. A tribute to British rock, the album features adaptations of music by Sting, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin and Elizabethan lutenist John Dowland, re-cast and re-imagined by contemporary composers Duśan Bogdanović,… Continue reading Bill Kanengiser and Alexander Strings Quartet release British rock tribute album “British Invasion”
2022-2023 Year in Review
Looking back on a remarkable year at USC Thornton.
Bokyung “Bo” Byun announced as a winner of Avery Fisher Career Grant
USC Thornton Classical Guitar program alumna Bokyung “Bo” Byun (DMA ’20) was announced as a winner of the Avery Fisher Career Grant on March 28 by The Violin Channel. In 2021, Byun became the first woman in 20 years to win the Guitar Foundation of America competition, and her list of accomplishments is only growing.… Continue reading Bokyung “Bo” Byun announced as a winner of Avery Fisher Career Grant