Tonality featured in L.A. Times for choral tribute to Ahmaud Arbery
Grammy Award-winning choral ensemble Tonality, led by USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music alumnus Alexander Lloyd Blake (DMA ’19), was featured in the Los Angeles Times on May 19. The article spotlights Tonality’s May 24 tribute show to Ahmaud Arbery, who in 2020 was murdered during a racially motivated hate crime. The program, “Put Your… Continue reading Tonality featured in L.A. Times for choral tribute to Ahmaud Arbery
Quenton Blache released debut studio recording, “To Whom I Pray”
USC Thornton composition and cello performance alumnus Quenton Blache (‘23) released his debut studio recording, “To Whom I Pray,” as a premiere on I CARE IF YOU LISTEN, the award-winning multimedia hub for living music creators powered by American Composers Forum (ACF). Written for string quintet and electronics, the piece is a collaboration between the… Continue reading Quenton Blache released debut studio recording, “To Whom I Pray”
Rixiang Huang releases new solo album of Scarlatti sonatas
Pianist and USC Thornton Keyboard Studies alumnus Rixiang Huang (DMA ’23) recently released his fourth solo album, Scarlatti: Complete Keyboard Sonatas, Vol. 30, via Naxos Records. The album features 17 sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti, presenting a range of expressive and stylistic contrasts. “This recording represents a deeply personal milestone in my artistic journey, and I’m… Continue reading Rixiang Huang releases new solo album of Scarlatti sonatas
Gibson Mahnke’s “Through this ocean glass” premieres at Hear Now Music Festival
USC Thornton Composition program student Gibson Mahnke’s piece Through this ocean glass premiered at the Hear Now Music Festival on April 13. The festival, which took place at 2200 Arts + Archives in Los Angeles, is one of several concerts spotlighting primarily young composers involved with university music programs. The next concert takes place at… Continue reading Gibson Mahnke’s “Through this ocean glass” premieres at Hear Now Music Festival
Pianist Esther Lee makes Carnegie Hall debut
On March 16, USC Thornton Keyboard Studies alumna Esther Lee (GCRT ’15, DMA ’19) made her Carnegie Hall debut as a pianist for the world premiere of Elliott Bark’s Mercy for Violin, Cello, Piano and Orchestra, presented by Distinguished Concerts International New York. Entitled “A Vision of Light,” the concert showcased choral and orchestral works… Continue reading Pianist Esther Lee makes Carnegie Hall debut
Amanda Nova plays with Yo-Yo Ma at fundraiser celebration for LAUSD instrument repair program
USC Thornton Keyboard Studies program student Amanda Nova played with cellist Yo-Yo Ma at a fundraiser event on April 6, celebrating a $1 million gift to “The Last Repair Shop” campaign. Donations to the fundraiser will help safeguard the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) program providing 130,000 free, repaired instruments for students. A Fairfax… Continue reading Amanda Nova plays with Yo-Yo Ma at fundraiser celebration for LAUSD instrument repair program
Andrew Shulman to teach masterclasses and perform in concerts around the UK and Ireland
USC Thornton Strings department faculty member Andrew Shulman will be teaching masterclasses and performing in concerts in the United Kingdom and Ireland in May. The masterclasses will take place at the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin on May 12, the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester on May 14, the Royal College… Continue reading Andrew Shulman to teach masterclasses and perform in concerts around the UK and Ireland
ArcoStrum perform in “Musicians on the Rise” concert at Kaufman Music Center
USC Thornton DMA candidate in Classical Guitar Tengyue (Ty) Zhang and Strings program alumnus Strauss Shi (MM ’19), now known as ArcoStrum, performed at the Kaufman Music Center on April 4 as part of the “Musicians on the Rise” concert series. The violin-guitar duo reimagines Chinese traditional music, modern rock and classical masterworks. ArcoStrum was… Continue reading ArcoStrum perform in “Musicians on the Rise” concert at Kaufman Music Center
Tyler Eschendal premiered “ACTIONS” at Lineage Performing Arts Center
USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Tyler Eschendal (MM ’18) premiered his latest work, “ACTIONS,” at the Lineage Performing Arts Center in Pasadena on March 29-30. According to the program note, “ACTIONS” is part of five interconnected movements exploring the musicality of speech and communication. Each movement presents a different verbal or physical action (Arguing, Acting,… Continue reading Tyler Eschendal premiered “ACTIONS” at Lineage Performing Arts Center
Caroline Wilkins Wins Principal Harp Position
USC Thornton Harp Performance alumna Caroline Wilkins (‘16, MM ‘19) won the principal harp position with the Boise Philharmonic. Wilkins, who studied under JoAnn Turovsky, has served as principal harpist with the American Youth Symphony, the Debut Chamber Orchestra and the USC Thornton Symphony. She is the 2019 grand prize winner of the American Harp… Continue reading Caroline Wilkins Wins Principal Harp Position