Tram Sparks publishes article in Choral Scholar
Tram Sparks, a Choral and Sacred Music faculty member at USC Thornton, published an article in the Spring 2019 issue of Choral Scholar: The Online Journal of the National Collegiate Choral Organization. The article, “The Choral Conductor as Bard in Motion,” argues that expressive choral conducting is based on a “historical, philosophical, and artistic understanding… Continue reading Tram Sparks publishes article in Choral Scholar
Frank Ticheli’s “American Elegy” continues to have impact
Soon after the Columbine shooting, USC Thornton Composition faculty member Frank Ticheli was asked to compose a piece for the Columbine High School Band to honor the grieving community and remember lives lost. A year after the tragedy, he premiered “American Elegy” with the Columbine High School Wind Ensemble at the Macky Auditorium on the… Continue reading Frank Ticheli’s “American Elegy” continues to have impact
LA Orchestra Fellowship musicians featured on Spectrum News 1
Earlier this week, Spectrum News 1 caught up with the four members of the Los Angeles Orchestra Fellowship who are currently studying at USC Thornton as part of this groundbreaking initiative. Founded in 2018 in partnership with Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles and USC Thornton, the fellowship’s goal… Continue reading LA Orchestra Fellowship musicians featured on Spectrum News 1
Sharon Lavery to tour with Vermont Symphony Orchestra
Sharon Lavery, resident conductor of the USC Thornton Orchestra program, is set to tour Vermont this summer with the Vermont Symphony Orchestra (VSO) for the 2019 VSO Summer Festival Tour. Lavery crafted the program for the seven-stop tour, which will be her VSO debut. The program features composers who constructed the American music identity, including… Continue reading Sharon Lavery to tour with Vermont Symphony Orchestra
USC Thornton Chamber Singers earn favorable reviews for performance with LACO
Last month, the USC Thornton Chamber Singers performed with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra during Jaime Martín’s anticipated debut as LACO’s Music Director-Designate. When Martín’s tenure officially starts in September, he will take over for USC Thornton professor Jeffrey Kahane, who ended a 20-year run as LACO’s Musical Director in 2016. The Los Angeles Times… Continue reading USC Thornton Chamber Singers earn favorable reviews for performance with LACO
Andrew Norman named finalist for Pulitzer Prize for Music
USC Thornton Composition faculty member Andrew Norman (’02, MM ’04) was one of three finalists for the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Music for his orchestral work Sustain. Sustain is a large-scale work for orchestra that was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic to launch its 100th anniversary season. The LA Phil premiered the piece on… Continue reading Andrew Norman named finalist for Pulitzer Prize for Music
Bill Biersach’s Beatles class profiled in Daily Trojan
USC Thornton faculty member Bill Biersach and his class The Beatles: Their Music and Their Times was profiled in the Daily Trojan. The article discusses how Biersach has evolved the course since he created it over 20 years ago. The class is immensely popular with students, and Biersach refers to it as his “one really… Continue reading Bill Biersach’s Beatles class profiled in Daily Trojan
Billy Childs to headline festival in New Zealand
Billy Childs ’79, a GRAMMY Award-winning artist and USC Thornton alumnus, will headline the 24th annual New Zealand International Jazz and Blues Festival on June 1. He will perform with his quartet alongside Dayna Stephens on saxophone, bassist Alex Boneham and drummer Christian Euman. The five-day, 26-show festival is one of New Zealand’s longest-running music… Continue reading Billy Childs to headline festival in New Zealand
India Anderson selected as first female drum major of Trojan Marching Band
USC Thornton undergraduate India Anderson was selected as the 2019-2020 drum major of the USC Trojan Marching Band. For the first time in its over 100-year history, the Spirit of Troy will be led by a woman. “I think it’s just great to have the leader of the band be a woman,” Anderson told Annenberg… Continue reading India Anderson selected as first female drum major of Trojan Marching Band
Argus Quartet performs in Detroit
The Argus Quartet was recently invited by the Chamber Music Society of Detroit to perform two performances with the Juilliard String Quartet in the Detroit metro area. The Argus Quartet includes USC Thornton alumni Clara Kim (DM ’15, violin) and Jason Issokan (MM ’10, violin), along with violist Dana Kelley and cellist Jo Whang. As… Continue reading Argus Quartet performs in Detroit