Juan Pablo Contreras selected for New Music USA’s Amplifying Voices program
Juan Pablo Contreras, a doctoral candidate in Composition and Latin GRAMMY nominee, has been named one of six composers in New Music USA’s 2020 Amplifying Voices program. With support from Sphinx Venture Fund, the program partners with six lead orchestras to co-commission new orchestral works by composers whose voices are not often represented in orchestral… Continue reading Juan Pablo Contreras selected for New Music USA’s Amplifying Voices program
Doyoung Park wins online Quebec Music International Competition
Pianist Doyoung Park, a graduate certificate candidate in Keyboard Studies, was recently awarded First Prize in the Professional category of the online 2020 Quebec Music Competition. Park won the category with her performance of the fourth movement of Samuel Barber’s Piano Sonata in E-flat minor, Op. 26. Watch the performance that won Park her first… Continue reading Doyoung Park wins online Quebec Music International Competition
KUSC’s “Play On, California!” highlights virtual performances by Gina Luciani, USC Oriana Choir
KUSC highlighted two performances from the Live! From Somewhere video series in a recent installment of the daily broadcast and online feature “Play On, California!” The June 3 feature included highlights of the USC Oriana Choir’s virtual Live! From Somewhere performance of “La Mia Stella” and alum Gina Luciani’s performance of “Passacaille” from her home studio.… Continue reading KUSC’s “Play On, California!” highlights virtual performances by Gina Luciani, USC Oriana Choir
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra introduces violinist Jason Issokson in new video
The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra recently introduced violinist and USC Thornton alum Jason Issokson (DMA ’11) as one of the newest members of the orchestra in a video interview and performance. In the video feature, filmed in November of 2019, he discusses how he was first introduced to chamber music, and performs Brahms’ Sonatensatz in… Continue reading Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra introduces violinist Jason Issokson in new video
Julie Landsman
Principal horn with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for 25 years, Julie Landsman is a distinguished performing artist and educator. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Landsman received a bachelor of music degree from The Juilliard School in 1975 under the tutelage of James Chambers and Ranier De Intinis. She achieved her dream of becoming principal… Continue reading Julie Landsman
Gabriel Martins wins first prize in two classical strings competitions
Cellist and USC Thornton alum Gabriel Martins (BM ’19) has recently won first prize in two classical strings competitions. In February, Martins won first prize in the Senior Division of the 2020 Sphinx Competition, a national competition for Black and Latino classical strings musicians. He was awarded second place in the competition in 2018. As… Continue reading Gabriel Martins wins first prize in two classical strings competitions
Lina Bahn pens advice to graduating college musicians
Lina Bahn, a faculty member in the USC Thornton Strings program, offers advice to musicians graduating from college in a recent online article. Bahn acknowledges that students graduating this semester are likely facing many questions about the future of their field in unprecedented times. Her advice to new graduates is to pull from the creativity… Continue reading Lina Bahn pens advice to graduating college musicians
Luca Mendoza and USC Thornton jazz ensembles win in DownBeat’s 43rd Annual Student Music Awards
The USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra, the Thornton Monday Night Band, and undergraduate pianist and composer Luca Mendoza were winners in DownBeat’s 43rd Annual Student Music Awards. The awards will be published in DownBeat’s June issue. The USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra, led by Bob Mintzer, won in the category Large Jazz Ensemble for Graduate College Outstanding… Continue reading Luca Mendoza and USC Thornton jazz ensembles win in DownBeat’s 43rd Annual Student Music Awards
Doyoung Park and Keke Luo among winners of American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition
Two students of USC Thornton’s Keyboard Studies program were named among thirteen First Place Winners of the College Students and Professional Musicians category of the American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition: graduate certificate candidate Doyoung Park, a student of Daniel Pollack and Mikhail Korzhev, and master’s student Keke Luo, a student of Bernadene Blaha.… Continue reading Doyoung Park and Keke Luo among winners of American Protégé International Piano and Strings Competition
Remembering Lynn Harrell
Lynn Harrell, the internationally-acclaimed cellist and former faculty member at the USC Thornton School of Music, died on Monday, April 27. He was 76. From 1986 to 1993, Harrell held the Gregor Piatigorsky Chair in Violoncello at USC Thornton where he taught countless cellists who have gone on to remarkable careers including faculty member Ben… Continue reading Remembering Lynn Harrell