Chris Garwood launches online learning platform for pianists
Classical Guitar alum Chris Garwood (BM ’15) has launched an online educational platform for pianists on his music education website Tonebase. Garwood originally launched Tonebase in 2017 as a platform for learning classical guitar, with the goal of making the best in online music education available to all musicians. Tonebase’s guitar platform now has over… Continue reading Chris Garwood launches online learning platform for pianists
Daniel Smythe forges nontraditional career path
Classical Guitar alum Daniel Smythe (BM ’95, MM ’97) was recently profiled in Trojan Family Magazine, where he discussed his unconventional career path as a musician and business consultant. Smythe earned his Bachelor and Master of Music at USC Thornton, and envisioned himself as a musician and teacher. However, after taking an arts management role… Continue reading Daniel Smythe forges nontraditional career path
Three Thornton doctoral candidates among this year’s USC International Artist Fellows
USC recently announced the 2019-2020 class of International Artist Fellows, including three USC Thornton DMA candidates: Classical Guitar student Bokyung Byun, Keyboard Studies student Wesley Chu, and Composition student Guang Yang. Since 2013, the International Artist Fellowship has provided scholarships and other resources to enable talented artsits from around the world to study at USC’s… Continue reading Three Thornton doctoral candidates among this year’s USC International Artist Fellows
Connie Sheu leads new Suzuki Guitar program at Colburn’s Community School of Performing Arts
The Colburn Community School of Performing Arts has launched a new guitar program, directed by Thornton alumna Connie Sheu (DMA ’11), that seeks to make classical music and instruments more accessible to beginning students. The program is based in the Suzuki teaching method, founded by Japanese violinist Shinichi Suzuki. Sheu sees classical guitar as a… Continue reading Connie Sheu leads new Suzuki Guitar program at Colburn’s Community School of Performing Arts
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
Mak Grgić releases new video
Last week, classical guitarist Mak Grgić (MM ’12, DMA ’16) released the video this his song “Macedonian Girl.” Grgić describes the song, which is from his new album, Balkanisms, as “one of the most emotional songs” he has ever recorded. Grgić also recently did a Reddit Ask Me Anything where he discussed what it felt… Continue reading Mak Grgić releases new video
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Eva Beneke appointed associate professor of guitar at Norwegian Academy of Music
Alumnus Eva Beneke (DMA ’12) has just been appointed associate professor of guitar at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo, Norway. Beneke has been serving as a full-time professor on the faculty at McNallySmith College of Music in St. Paul Minnesota as well as the artistic director of Lowertown Classics, a chamber-music series.
Bill Kanengiser premieres orchestral guitar work by Sérgio Assad
Classical guitarist and USC Thornton faculty member Bill Kanengiser recently presented the world premiere of a five-movement work by Brazilian composer Sérgio Assad. The Walls, which Kanengiser commissioned, calls for a guitar soloist with a 50-guitar orchestra and received its premiere at Guilford College in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Oct. 4th. Kanengiser also presented The… Continue reading Bill Kanengiser premieres orchestral guitar work by Sérgio Assad