Daily Trojan explores Music@RushHour series with Mak Grgić
The Daily Trojan, USC’s student-run newspaper, profiled USC Thornton’s weekly Music@RushHour concert series in their February 25th issue. The regular Wednesday concerts, which are coordinated by Classical Guitar doctoral candidate Mak Grgić (pictured), aim to provide a relaxing and engaging respite to USC students, faculty, and staff, who might otherwise by struggling through rush hour… Continue reading Daily Trojan explores Music@RushHour series with Mak Grgić
Alumnus Cameron O’Connor wins Frances Walton Competition
This past summer, classical guitarist and alumnus Cameron O’Connor (DMA ’14) was one of four soloist award winners of the Frances Walton Competition in Seattle, WA. The competition is open to classical performers of piano, voice, strings and wind instruments, who are residents or students in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, California or Alaska. Soloist winners… Continue reading Alumnus Cameron O’Connor wins Frances Walton Competition
Alumnus Ben Pila to perform before Pope Francis at September 11 Memorial event
Classical guitarist and USC Thornton alumnus Ben Pila (DMA ’11) has been invited to perform for Pope Francis during the pontiff’s Sept. 25 visit to the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York City. Pila has become a semi-regular presence at the memorial’s anniversary events, performing for dignitaries including Presidents Barack Obama and… Continue reading Alumnus Ben Pila to perform before Pope Francis at September 11 Memorial event
Guitar student Jason Lewis featured on NPR’s “From the Top”
USC Thornton Classical Guitar student Jason Lewis (BM ’19), was a featured performer on the June 28, 2015 episode of NPR’s From the Top with Host Christopher O’Riley. The 18 year-old guitarist and dual neuroscience/music major from Glencoe, Illinois, performed works by Leo Brouwer and Roland Dyens, for the show, which was recorded in Boston.… Continue reading Guitar student Jason Lewis featured on NPR’s “From the Top”
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet releases new album
The Grammy Award-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet, which features John Dearman, USC Thornton alum Matthew Greif, and USC Thornton faculty Scott Tenant and William Kanengiser, has released a new album, entitled New Renaissance. The recording, which evokes 16th century La Mancha with a distinctly modern aesthetic, was partially funded through a crowd-sourced Kickstarter campaign, which… Continue reading Los Angeles Guitar Quartet releases new album
Classical Guitar professor William Kanengiser featured in KUSC interview
USC Thornton faculty William Kanengiser was featured in a March 5th interview by Jim Svejda on classic radio station KUSC 91.5 FM. Kanengiser premiered his arrangements of Music from the Time of Cervantes and discussed his work with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet and recent collaboration with composer and Thornton alum Jeffrey Holmes at the… Continue reading Classical Guitar professor William Kanengiser featured in KUSC interview
Ines Thomé and Katina Mitchell win Thornton Outreach Chamber Ensemble Competition
USC Thornton students Ines Thomé (GCRT, DMA) and Katina Mitchell (DMA) won the Thornton Outreach Chamber Ensemble Competition with their ensemble Gifts from Over Sea. Thomé, a DMA student in Classical Guitar, and Mitchell, a DMA student in Vocal Arts, will perform upcoming concerts for school children in Los Angeles as Thornton Outreach Chamber Ensemble… Continue reading Ines Thomé and Katina Mitchell win Thornton Outreach Chamber Ensemble Competition
Classical Guitar alum Cameron O’Connor a finalist in the Tokyo International Guitar Competition
Classical guitar alum Cameron O’Connor, who recently completed his DMA, was a finalist in the Tokyo International Guitar Competition. O’Connor, who studied with Bill Kanengiser, made his Lincoln Center debut in 2009 under the baton of Academy Award-winning composer Tan Dun, performing Concerto for Six, an ensemble piece which mixes Western and Eastern musical idioms.… Continue reading Classical Guitar alum Cameron O’Connor a finalist in the Tokyo International Guitar Competition
Green Umbrella performance features USC Thornton faculty Brian Head, Marion Kuszyk and student Eric Jacobs
The Los Angeles Times reviewed the L.A. Phil’s Green Umbrella series concert in December featuring a program of new music by composers from Germany, Switzerland and Italy as well as a mid-20th century classic by Karlheinz Stockhausen. Titled the “European Avant-Garde,” the concert featured Thornton faculty Brian Head, chair of the Classical Guitar program; Marion… Continue reading Green Umbrella performance features USC Thornton faculty Brian Head, Marion Kuszyk and student Eric Jacobs
Classical Guitar alum Colin Davin to perform on Late Show with David Letterman
Classical Guitar alum Colin Davin (BM ’09) will perform the folk-blues classic “Midnight Special” with GRAMMY Award-winning contemporary opera singer Jessye Norman on the Late Show with David Letterman this Thurs., Nov. 20. Hailed as “the real thing, a player with a virtuoso’s technique, a deeply expressive musicianship, and a probing imagination” (American Record Guide),… Continue reading Classical Guitar alum Colin Davin to perform on Late Show with David Letterman