Mak Grgić releases new video
Last week, classical guitarist Mak Grgić (MM ’12, DMA ’16) released the video this his song “Macedonian Girl.” Grgić describes the song, which is from his new album, Balkanisms, as “one of the most emotional songs” he has ever recorded. Grgić also recently did a Reddit Ask Me Anything where he discussed what it felt… Continue reading Mak Grgić releases new video
Veronika Krausas earns praise for new opera
Veronika Krausas, a USC Thornton Composition faculty member, debuted her newest opera to rave reviews last month. Ghost Opera, which premiered at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity, earned positive press from the Calgary Herald and CBC. The Calgary Herald praised Krausas while describing the show as “visually opulent” and “theatrically mesmerizing.” “Krausas has… Continue reading Veronika Krausas earns praise for new opera
Nicholas Méndez Del Valle wins Collegiate Concerto Competition
USC Thornton undergraduate pianist Nicholas Méndez Del Valle recently was the unanimous grand prize winner of the Santa Monica Symphony and Westside Music Foundation’s new Collegiate Concerto Competition. The Santa Monica Mirror profiled Del Valle for this accomplishment and mentioned his May 26 performance with the Santa Monica Symphony.
USC musicians to perform at LA Phil’s Noon to Midnight event
On Saturday, June 1 the LA Phil celebrates new music with their third-annual Noon to Midnight event, a twelve-hour marathon featuring many of California’s finest ensembles in pop-up performances around Walt Disney Concert Hall. The day-long lineup features several ensembles that feature USC Thornton musicians, including USC Thornton Percussion Group, HOCKET, Sakura Cello Quintet, Calder… Continue reading USC musicians to perform at LA Phil’s Noon to Midnight event
Nick Strimple releases new composition as part of NCCO Choral Series
Nick Strimple, Professor of Choral and Sacred Music at USC Thornton, recently released his new Christmas-Sacred choral composition, “Verbum caro factum est,” for unaccompanied SATB as part of the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO). Strimple wrote this Christmas motet, the Responsory to the eighth Lesson of Second Vespers on Christmas, in honor of the Reverand… Continue reading Nick Strimple releases new composition as part of NCCO Choral Series
Remembering Alice Schoenfeld
USC Thornton mourns the loss of beloved violin professor Alice Schoenfeld, who, along with her sister Elenore, leaves a lasting legacy at USC.
Christina Linhardt’s documentary gets picked up by Amazon
USC Thornton alumna Christina Linhardt’s ’97 documentary, Guantanamo Circus, was recently released on Amazon Prime. The documentary chronicles an ad hoc circus troupe performing at Guantanamo Bay Cuba, one of the world’s most notorious and controversial prisons, in 2006. Linhardt co-directed and scored the film, which won the Hollywood F.A.M.E. Award. The score consisted of… Continue reading Christina Linhardt’s documentary gets picked up by Amazon
Veronika Krausas to present new opera in Canada
This Friday, May 24, USC Thornton Composition faculty member Veronika Krausas will present the world premiere of a new opera, Ghost Opera at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity. The new work, which is a full-length chamber drama giocoso opera conceived with puppets, is presented by The Old Trout Puppet Workshop and Calgary Opera in… Continue reading Veronika Krausas to present new opera in Canada
Karen Parks
Karen Parks is a Fulbright Scholar, Olivier Award nominee and Billboard chart-topper. She is also a master teacher and vocal consultant at YoungArts and President, CEO and Director of Stagebound. Her career highlights include performances with the San Francisco Opera, London, Budapest, Göteborg and New World Symphonies, Helsinki Philharmonic, the Boston Pops, and the APOLLO… Continue reading Karen Parks
USC Thornton students and alumni win Morton Gould Young Composer Awards
USC Thornton Composition students and alumni comprised five of the 21 recipients of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation 2019 Morton Gould Young Composer Awards. The annual award encourages talented young creators of concert music ranging in age from 10 to 30. The winners included undergraduate Adam Karelin, graduate students Nina… Continue reading USC Thornton students and alumni win Morton Gould Young Composer Awards