Posts Tagged ‘Classical Performance and Composition’


Cellist Seth Parker Woods standing with their cello instrument.

Seth Parker Woods

April 11, 2022

Hailed by The Guardian as “a cellist of power and grace” who possesses “mature artistry and willingness to go to the brink,” two-time Grammy-nominated cellist Seth Parker Woods has established his reputation as a versatile artist and innovator across multiple genres. Woods’ projects delve deep into our cultural fabric, reimagining traditional works and commissioning new ones to… Continue reading Seth Parker Woods


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Ted Hearne commissioned by UCLA to reimagine Stephen Sondheim composition

April 8, 2022

UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance commissioned USC Thornton Composition faculty member Ted Hearne to write a re-imagined version of a Stephen Sondheim piece. The song will be played by celebrated pianist Anthony de Mare in his performance of Liaisons: Re-Imagining Sondheim from the Piano on April 10 at 7 p.m.


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Thornton Edge releases album of music by Thornton emeritus professor Frederick Lesemann

April 5, 2022

A new recording of the USC Thornton Edge, directed by Donald Crockett, celebrates the life and work of Frederick Lesemann, emeritus professor of composition at the USC Thornton School of Music. Frederick Lesemann: Songs and Concertinos features three concertinos for small ensembles, as well as a collection of three songs inspired by poetry written more… Continue reading Thornton Edge releases album of music by Thornton emeritus professor Frederick Lesemann


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Michael Abels interviewed on TODAY show

March 28, 2022

Award-winning composer and USC Thornton Composition program alum Michael Abels (’84) was featured in a Today Show segment about how he’s breaking down barriers in Hollywood. The segment detailed Abels’ career from when he started working with director Jordan Peele on the horror hit Get Out to his involvement with the Composers Diversity Collective and… Continue reading Michael Abels interviewed on TODAY show


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Matthew Daley featured in Los Angeles Sentinel

March 24, 2022

Matthew Daley, a doctoral student in the USC Thornton Organ Studies program, was featured in a Los Angeles Sentinel article about his performance at the 14th annual President’s Day Organ Festival. At the event, Daley played Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Partite diverse sopra: Sei Gegrusset, Jesu Gutig” on a pipe organ. Daley has previously performed around the… Continue reading Matthew Daley featured in Los Angeles Sentinel


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Diana Newman makes her Metropolitan Opera debut

March 22, 2022

Soprano and USC Thornton alum Diana Newman (’12, MM ’14) made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Papagena in The Magic Flute on December 27. Newman previously debuted with the Dallas Opera as First Lady in The Magic Flute in 2019, and she is a recent graduate of the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center.


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Julie Landsman featured on the cover of International Musician

March 21, 2022

USC Thornton Winds & Percussion Department faculty member Julie Landsman was featured on the cover of International Musician, the official publication of the American Federation of Musicians. The feature celebrates Landsman’s decades-long legacy of pioneering achievement in a male-dominated field and how she’s set the tone for a generation of students. “I give my heart… Continue reading Julie Landsman featured on the cover of International Musician


Photo of Andres Peterson playing the clarinet

Anders Peterson wins second prize in clarinet competition

March 17, 2022

USC Thornton clarinet performance major Anders Peterson won second prize in the classical clarinet category of the 2022 Vandoren Emerging Artist (VEA) Solo Competition. The VEA competition began in 2010 as a way to identify the next generation of great clarinetists and saxophonists and acknowledge them for their talent, hard work and artistry. As the… Continue reading Anders Peterson wins second prize in clarinet competition


Photo of Emily Hsu playing the violin

Emily Hsu featured in USC Trojan Family

March 14, 2022

“Second-year USC Thornton student Emily Hsu was featured in a USC Trojan Family magazine story about how students can forge their own academic paths at USC. Hsu currently studies violin performance at the USC Thornton School of Music and business administration at the USC Marshall School of Business. She also manages the Student Symphony Orchestra… Continue reading Emily Hsu featured in USC Trojan Family


A black/white cool portrait of Andrew Rudy

Andrew Rudy featured in Los Angeles publication

March 10, 2022

Andrew Rudy, a USC Thornton Music Industry program student, was recently interviewed by local publication Shoutout LA. In the piece, he talked about what keeps him busy as an artist, what he wants his legacy to be and which people in his life deserve recognition. “I love every facet that goes into making my music.… Continue reading Andrew Rudy featured in Los Angeles publication