Pardy Minassian finds lost songs in Shoah Foundation archive
USC Thornton Classical Guitar program graduate certificate alumna Pardy Minassian was featured on USC Shoah Foundation’s website for discovery of lost Armenian testimonies and songs from the Armenian Genocide. Last year, the Armenian guitarist was awarded a project grant from the Calouste Gyukbenkian Foundation for her multimedia series focused on unpublished Armenian folk songs that… Continue reading Pardy Minassian finds lost songs in Shoah Foundation archive
Chris Garwood launches online learning platform for violinists
Online classical music education company tonebase, founded by Thornton Classical Guitar program alumnus Chris Garwood (’15), recently launched a learning platform for violinists. The new platform features a curated library of pre-recorded lessons and courses taught by renowned violinists and pedagogues including USC Thornton Jascha Heifetz Chair in Violin Glenn Dicterow, Aleksey Igudesman, Shmuel Ashkenasi,… Continue reading Chris Garwood launches online learning platform for violinists
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was awarded a project grant from the Calouste Gyukbenkian Foundation for her multimedia series based on forgotten, unpublished Armenian folk songs, which she’s gathered from her father’s collection of interviews with Armenian genocide survivors.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
William Kanengiser and Scott Tennant perform at the Albany Symphony season finale
USC Thornton faculty members William Kanengiser and Scott Tenant perform a weekend of solo and duo works for classical guitar as part of the Albany Symphony’s season finale.
Lee Ritenour to release new album, Dreamcatcher, Dec. 4
GRAMMY Award-winning guitarist and USC Thornton alum Lee Ritenour recently announced the upcoming release of his first studio album in five years entitled Dreamcatcher. Dreamcatcher marks Ritenour’s first ever full-length solo guitar album and will be released on Dec. 4. Ritenour shared with GratefulWeb the significance of his first solo album, particularly during this year.… Continue reading Lee Ritenour to release new album, Dreamcatcher, Dec. 4
Classical Guitar students and alumni launch Guitarlab online learning platform
A group of entrepreneurial alumni and students of USC Thornton’s Classical Guitar program have launched Guitarlab, a new international online classical guitar intensive and competition for guitarists ages 12-21. Alumni Bokyung Byun (DMA ’20), Tomasz Fechner (MM ’16, DMA ’20), and Jaxon Williams (DMA ’20) along with doctoral students Mircea Gogoncea and Brendon Grabowski built… Continue reading Classical Guitar students and alumni launch Guitarlab online learning platform
Tomas Janzon earns warm reviews for latest album
USC Thornton alum Tomas Janzon (MM ’00) recently released a new album, 130th & Lenox, and received positive reviews in Downbeat magazine and JazzTimes. About Janzon’s playing, JazzTimes writes: “Even when guitarist Tomas Janzon is in full flight, his music is welcoming—he sounds as if he wants to invite us in, rather than intimidate or… Continue reading Tomas Janzon earns warm reviews for latest album
Thornton students talk transition to remote classes with Daily Trojan
In an article published April 13, the Daily Trojan interviewed students from USC Thornton and other USC performing arts schools about the unique challenges they faced in the transition to remote instruction, and how they and their instructors have adapted to the new format. Dominic Anzalone, a sophomore in the Popular Music program, told the… Continue reading Thornton students talk transition to remote classes with Daily Trojan
Daily Trojan highlights Live! From Somewhere performance series
The Daily Trojan, USC’s student-led newspaper, recently highlighted USC Thornton’s new video series, Live! From Somewhere. The series was launched on March 16 in response to recent closures and event cancellations, and as the school’s artists have looked for ways to continue making music while social distancing. Live! From Somewhere presents homemade performances by Thornton… Continue reading Daily Trojan highlights Live! From Somewhere performance series
USC Thornton faculty and alumnus to perform in benefit concert for Paradise Fire victims
Sunday, Nov. 24, USC Thornton Classical Guitar faculty members William Kanengiser and Scott Tennant (of the GRAMMY-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet) and USC Thornton flamenco virtuoso and faculty member Adam del Monte will perform in a benefit concert, “Recuerdos de Paradise,” to support the victims of the Paradise Fire in 2018. Performing alongside them are flamenco… Continue reading USC Thornton faculty and alumnus to perform in benefit concert for Paradise Fire victims