Detroit Symphony Orchestra to present world premiere by Veronika Krausas
On Saturday, May. 8, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra will present the world premiere of Caryatids by Veronika Krausas. The professor of Composition’s new work won the DSO’s tenth annual Elaine Lebenbom Memorial Award for Female Composers. The concert also includes the Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto featuring Midori, Judge Widney Professor of Music at USC. The digital… Continue reading Detroit Symphony Orchestra to present world premiere by Veronika Krausas
Nina Shekhar selected to be Young Concert Artist’s Composer-in-Residence for 2021
Thornton alum Nina Shekhar (MM ’20, Composition) has been selected to be the Young Concert Artist’s Composer-in-Residence for 2021. The residency includes a 3-year management contract and a substantial financial package for three commissions. Shekhar is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at Princeton University and also serves as a Composer Teaching Artist Fellow for the Los Angeles… Continue reading Nina Shekhar selected to be Young Concert Artist’s Composer-in-Residence for 2021
Violinists Etienne Gara and YuEun Kim featured on Volkwagen website
USC Thornton alumni Etienne Gara and YuEun Kim (GCRT ‘15, AD ‘17) have been featured on the Volkswagen website for their project, MusiKaravan. Over the last year, the two violinists have been traveling to farms and wineries in a restored 1971 red Volkswagen Westfalia, bringing music outdoors to essential workers. “We don’t always call in… Continue reading Violinists Etienne Gara and YuEun Kim featured on Volkwagen website
Catherine Karoly
Catherine Karoly joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic in 1996 as second flutist and was promoted to Associate Principal Flute in 2009 by Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen. She has performed as a soloist with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and New World Symphony and has frequently appeared in chamber music concerts at the Marlboro, La Jolla Summerfest,… Continue reading Catherine Karoly
Zelter Quartet wins Gold Prize at Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition
The Zelter Quartet has won the Gold Prize at the 2021 Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition. The annual competition in Easton, Maryland was held virtually this year. The Los Angeles-based quartet includes violist Nao Kubota (MM ’19), a Graduate Certificate student; cellist Allan Hon, a Doctoral student; and violinists Kyle Gilner (BM’16) and Gallia Kastner.
Michael Abels interviewed by Jon Burlingame in Variety
USC Thornton Composition alumnus Michael Abels (BM ‘84) was interviewed in Variety about composers of color in the film industry by Thornton faculty member and music writer Jon Burlingame. Abels, one of the co-founders of the Composers Diversity Collective, spoke about the changes he has seen in Hollywood over the past years as race and… Continue reading Michael Abels interviewed by Jon Burlingame in Variety
Cristian Grases appointed to Artistic Committee of World Symposium on Choral Music
Cristian Grases, chair of the Choral & Sacred Music program at USC Thornton, has been appointed to the Artistic Committee preparing the next World Symposium on Choral Music (WSCM). The event is scheduled to take place in Doha, Qatar in 2023, bringing the WSCM to the Middle East for the very first time, and is… Continue reading Cristian Grases appointed to Artistic Committee of World Symposium on Choral Music
Annie Gosfield wins American Academy of Arts and Letters Award
Annie Gosfield, USC Thornton alum and composer, has been named a winner of the American Academy of Arts and Letters Music Awards. Gosfield is one of the four composers awarded the Arts and Letters Awards in music. Each honoree will receive $10,000 award as well as an additional $10,000 to record their work. Their original… Continue reading Annie Gosfield wins American Academy of Arts and Letters Award
Rixiang Huang awarded first prize in Chopin International Piano Competition
Pianist Rixiang Huang was awarded first prize in the Piano Masters category of the Chopin International Piano Competition. Held annually in Hartford, Connecticut, the competition was held virtually this year. Huang performed Chopin’s Barcarolle, Rondo in E-flat major, Scherzo No. 3 as well as Bartok’s Piano Sonata and Rachmaninoff’s Études-Tableaux, Op. 39 in the final… Continue reading Rixiang Huang awarded first prize in Chopin International Piano Competition
Alumni featured in Los Angeles Times about pandemic loss and hope
Three USC Thornton alumni were recently featured in a Los Angeles Times article on classical musicians’ stories of pandemic loss and hope. Alexander Blake (DMA ‘19), Melissa Tong (BM ‘00), and Jonathan Karoly (BM ‘97) shared their stories of overcoming struggles during the pandemic and embracing new opportunities. “This time has confirmed that I’m a… Continue reading Alumni featured in Los Angeles Times about pandemic loss and hope