Posts Tagged ‘Classical Performance and Composition’


Picture of Vimbayi Kaziboni conducting

Vimbayi Kaziboni guest conducts the LA Phil New Music Group

March 8, 2022

Critically acclaimed conductor and USC Thornton alumnus Vimbayi Kaziboni guest conducts the LA Phil New Music Group on March 8 at 8 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The program includes two world premieres of pieces by Wadada Leo Smith and inti figgis-vizueta. Kaziboni currently serves on the artistic leadership team of the Boston Lyric… Continue reading Vimbayi Kaziboni guest conducts the LA Phil New Music Group


A strings student performs with the orchestra at Capitol Studios.

Thornton students perform in Intercollegiate Studio Orchestra at Capitol Studios

March 7, 2022

USC Thornton graduate students Floriane Naboulet, Veronika Manchur, Emma Antonides, Youngeun Choi and Amelia Hammond recently performed in the Intercollegiate Studio Orchestra at Capitol Studios as part of the Los Angeles Film Conducting Intensive’s The Intensive 2022 workshop. The LAFCI is a media conductor training program created by Thornton alumni Angel Velez (MA ‘14) and… Continue reading Thornton students perform in Intercollegiate Studio Orchestra at Capitol Studios


Photo of Camae Ayewa (Dennis)

Camae Ayewa hosts virtual USC Visions & Voices event

February 24, 2022

USC Visions & Voices hosts a virtual event on Feb. 26 at 8 p.m. with Black Quantum Futurism, a multidisciplinary collaboration between USC Thornton Composition faculty member Camae Ayewa and Rasheedah Phillips that explores the intersections of futurism, creative media, DIY-aesthetics and activism in marginalized communities through an alternative temporal lens. The duo will host… Continue reading Camae Ayewa hosts virtual USC Visions & Voices event


Formal portrait of Ron McCurdy against light green backdrop

Ron McCurdy Quartet performs with Pacific Symphony

February 22, 2022

USC Thornton Jazz Studies Department faculty member and assistant dean of the justice, equity, diversity and inclusion committee Ron McCurdy and his quartet play with the Pacific Symphony on Feb. 27 in a multimedia concert performance of Langston Hughes’ jazz poem suite Ask Your Mama: Twelve Moods for Jazz. Directed by artistic leader and principal… Continue reading Ron McCurdy Quartet performs with Pacific Symphony


This picture zooms on 3 of the Golden Bridge members singing onstage.

The Golden Bridge premieres works from USC Thornton faculty and alumni

February 18, 2022

During a concert on Feb. 19, The Golden Bridge — a 20-member choral group led by USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music Department faculty member Suzi Digby — will premiere works by fellow choral faculty member Nick Strimple and Thornton alumnus Saunder Choi (MM ‘16). The program includes the world premieres of “The Silver Swan”… Continue reading The Golden Bridge premieres works from USC Thornton faculty and alumni


Photo of Quenton Blache playing the cello

Quenton Blache performs with the Peninsula Symphony with guest conductor Andrew Shulman

February 18, 2022

USC Thornton composition and cello performance student Quenton Blache performs with the Peninsula Symphony on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. The concert will feature guest conductor Andrew Shulman, a USC Thornton Strings Department faculty member, who will be giving a pre-concert lecture at 6:15 p.m. Blache is an accomplished cellist and composer. In 2021, he… Continue reading Quenton Blache performs with the Peninsula Symphony with guest conductor Andrew Shulman


Photo of Justus Ross seated outdoors

Justus Ross performs as part of concert celebrating Black creativity

February 10, 2022

USC Thornton strings alumnus Justus Ross is performing at Castle of our Skins’ inaugural Inter-Collegiate Black Student Union Fellowship concert, What is Black Creativity?, on Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. This performance is the capstone event of a five-month program in which Black students from the Longy School of Music, the New England Conservatory and… Continue reading Justus Ross performs as part of concert celebrating Black creativity


Photo of pianist Vijay Venkatesh in between two pianos

Vijay Venkatesh on The Playful Musician Podcast

February 7, 2022

Vijay Venkatesh (‘17), an alumnus of the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies Department, was recently a guest on The Playful Musician podcast. During his conversation with host Steve Davidson, he spoke about the importance of channeling life experiences into his performances. “Channeling life experiences into a piece of music is also paramount to releasing its character.… Continue reading Vijay Venkatesh on The Playful Musician Podcast


Photo of Reyna Gordon

Reyna Gordon promoted at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

February 1, 2022

Vocal arts alum Dr. Reyna Gordon (BM ‘01) has been promoted to associate professor and awarded tenure in the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery. Gordon currently serves as one of the co-directors of the Vanderbilt Music Cognition Lab, where she leads an interdisciplinary research program focused on musicality… Continue reading Reyna Gordon promoted at Vanderbilt University Medical Center


Photo of singers performing at sunset

Jenny Wong co-directs the LA Master Chorale

January 28, 2022

USC Thornton Department of Choral & Sacred Music alum Jenny Wong (MM ‘13, DMA ‘17) will be co-directing the Los Angeles Master Chorale on Jan. 30. in City Called Heaven. The program, which takes its name from the famous African American spiritual, will explore themes of homecoming and aspiring toward paradise. It will feature works… Continue reading Jenny Wong co-directs the LA Master Chorale