Posts Tagged ‘Classical Performance and Composition’


The Calder Quartet awarded Avery Fisher Career Grant

April 9, 2014

The Calder Quartet (Benjamin Jacobson, violin; Andrew Bulbrook, violin; Jonathan Moerschel, viola; Eric Byers, cello) was named as one of the recipients of the Avery Fisher Career Grants for 2014. The grants give professional assistance to instrumentalists judged to have exceptional career potential. Founded at USC, the Calder Quartet is known for the discovery, commissioning,… Continue reading The Calder Quartet awarded Avery Fisher Career Grant


New album from Adam and Rotem Gilbert named “Editors Choice” by Early Music Today

April 4, 2014

Early Music faculty Adam and Rotem Gilbert’s group Ciaramella was honored by Early Music Today for their recent CD Dances on Movable Ground. The publication gave the album the designation of “Editor’s Choice,” and lauded the release for its “expressive fluidity and rhythmic vitality.” Ciaramella is a Renaissance ensemble that has recorded for the Naxos… Continue reading New album from Adam and Rotem Gilbert named “Editors Choice” by Early Music Today


Jenny Ching Yee Wong, DMA, selected to attend Oregon Bach Festival

March 25, 2014

Jenny Ching Yee Wong, DMA student in Choral Music, has been selected as one of 6-8 conductors worldwide to attend the prestigious Oregon Bach Festival in Eugene, Oregon this summer. For three weeks, Jenny will be studying four major Bach choral-orchestral works and more with Helmuth Rilling and new artistic director Matthew Halls. Jenny will conduct the Festival Orchestra, choruses and… Continue reading Jenny Ching Yee Wong, DMA, selected to attend Oregon Bach Festival


Bear McCreary, Calder Quartet profiled by LA Times

March 21, 2014

USC Thornton alumnus Bear McCreary and the Calder Quartet — comprised of alumni Benjamin Jacobson, Andrew Bulbrook, Jonathan Moerschel and Eric Byers — were interviewed by the Los Angeles Times for a feature on McCreary’s work as the composer for the Starz series “Da Vinci’s Demons.” McCreary and the members of the Calder Quartet met while freshmen at USC… Continue reading Bear McCreary, Calder Quartet profiled by LA Times


Los Angeles Master Chorale “Tribute to Lauridsen” reviewed by LA Times, Class Act

March 21, 2014

Last weekend’s sold-out Los Angeles Master Chorale event “Tribute to Lauridsen,” which honored the life and works of USC Distinguished Professor of Composition Morten Lauridsen, received positive reviews from a variety of local news outlets, including the Los Angeles Times and classical music blog, Class Act. Times critic Richard Ginell called the evening an “extravagant gesture that… Continue reading Los Angeles Master Chorale “Tribute to Lauridsen” reviewed by LA Times, Class Act


Morten Lauridsen interviewed by Southern California blog ‘All Is Yar’

March 17, 2014

USC Distinguished Professor of Composition Morten Lauridsen was recently interviewed by CK Dexter Haven for the Southern California culture blog All Is Yar. Lauridsen’s longstanding relationship with USC Thornton and USC at-large was a major focus of the piece, with Lauridsen comparing his time as a USC student in the 1960s with the experiences of… Continue reading Morten Lauridsen interviewed by Southern California blog ‘All Is Yar’


Bernadene Blaha, Kevin Fitz-Gerald and Pepe Romero to perform at Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival

March 15, 2014

Keyboard Studies faculty Bernadene Blaha and Kevin Fitz-Gerald, as well as Classical Guitar faculty Pepe Romero, will perform at next week’s Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival. The event, which features a variety of performances by musicians from around the world, runs through March 21. A full schedule of the festival’s scheduled performances can be found on… Continue reading Bernadene Blaha, Kevin Fitz-Gerald and Pepe Romero to perform at Tucson Winter Chamber Music Festival


USC Bass Tuba Quartet to compete at International Tuba Euphonium Conference

March 14, 2014

The USC Bass Tuba Quartet – consisting of Thornton students Brandon Davis, Danny Garcia, Charlie Mann and Michael Murrin – has been chosen for the competition at the International Tuba Euphonium Conference at Indiana University in May. In addition, the entire class of six – the USC Thornton Tubas – has a featured evening concert… Continue reading USC Bass Tuba Quartet to compete at International Tuba Euphonium Conference


Donald Crockett to perform with Boston Modern Orchestra Project

March 11, 2014

Composition faculty and chair Donald Crockett will perform his work “Blue Earth” in an upcoming concert entitled “Boston ConNECtion,” presented in collaboration with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project (BMOP) and the New England Conservatory (NEC). NEC has also named Crockett a visiting composer-in-residence. The event takes place at NEC on March 28, 2014. Tickets and… Continue reading Donald Crockett to perform with Boston Modern Orchestra Project


Temple City Tribune previews performance by student Ga Hyun Cho

March 10, 2014

The Temple City Tribune previewed the Shumei Arts Council’s Clyde Montgomery Concert, which will occur on April 6 in Pasadena. The concert will feature selected musicians from USC Thornton, including Ga Hyun Cho — a Startling Foundation Scholarship recipient who studies under Strings Chair Midori Goto, world-renowned violinist and Distinguished Professor at USC. The program is organized… Continue reading Temple City Tribune previews performance by student Ga Hyun Cho