Michael Abels wins 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Michael Abels (’84), an acclaimed composer and USC Thornton Composition program alumnus, has won the 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Music for the opera Omar. Co-composed by Rhiannon Giddens, Omar is a musical work that tells the story of enslaved people brought to North America from Muslim countries. The opera premiered on May 27 at the… Continue reading Michael Abels wins 2023 Pulitzer Prize in Music
Eight Thornton students and alumni win at 2023 Beverly Hills National Auditions
Eight USC Thornton students and alumni were announced as winners of the 2023 Beverly Hills National Auditions (BHNA). BHNA winners will receive performance opportunities at a series of over 40 concerts across Southern California, including Music in the Mansion Festival on the third week of April 2024. Of the 11 winners, eight are from USC… Continue reading Eight Thornton students and alumni win at 2023 Beverly Hills National Auditions
Derrick Lawrence
Derrick Lawrence, baritone, has sung roles on the stages of Philadelphia Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Dallas Opera, Charlotte Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Piedmont Opera, Opera North, Zurich Opera House, Budapest, Wiesbaden, Düsseldorf, The Royal Danish Opera, Stuttgart, Luzern, Aachen, Freiburg, Statts Opera Berlin, Kaiserslautern, La Monnaie, Teatro Massimo, Opera Lyon and National Theater Brünn. Lawrence… Continue reading Derrick Lawrence
Emily Sung
Emily Sung is a Chinese American conductor, scholar and teacher from Lawrenceville, New Jersey. Before her appointment at the USC Thornton School of Music, Sung previously served as the associate director of Choral Activities at Princeton University, the director of the Chamber Choir and Choral Society at the University of Pennsylvania, and a member of… Continue reading Emily Sung
Pardy Minassian finds lost songs in Shoah Foundation archive
USC Thornton Classical Guitar program graduate certificate alumna Pardy Minassian was featured on USC Shoah Foundation’s website for discovery of lost Armenian testimonies and songs from the Armenian Genocide. Last year, the Armenian guitarist was awarded a project grant from the Calouste Gyukbenkian Foundation for her multimedia series focused on unpublished Armenian folk songs that… Continue reading Pardy Minassian finds lost songs in Shoah Foundation archive
“Difficult Grace” by Seth Parker Woods named a Critic’s Pick by The New York Times
“Difficult Grace,” by USC Thornton strings department faculty member Seth Parker Woods, has been named a Critic’s Pick by The New York Times. An evening-long multimedia program at the 92nd Street Y’s Kaufmann Concert Hall, the performance featured Woods performing a series of works with the choreographer and dancer Roderick George. “Woods was already a cellist of… Continue reading “Difficult Grace” by Seth Parker Woods named a Critic’s Pick by The New York Times
Kyra Stahr to present at California All-State Music Education Conference
Thornton Department of Choral & Sacred Music master’s student Kyra Stahr (MM ‘23) has been selected to present in two sessions at the California All-State Music Education Conference February 15-19, 2023 in Fresno, California. The sessions are titled “Programming with Purpose: Repertoire to Support the Developing Secondary Choral Program” and “Bridging the Gap: Creating an… Continue reading Kyra Stahr to present at California All-State Music Education Conference
Seth Parker Woods announces world premiere of multimedia concert tour “Difficult Grace”
USC Thornton strings department faculty member and cellist Seth Parker Woods has announced the world premiere of his multimedia concert, “Difficult Grace,” which features film, spoken text, visual artwork and original choreography by Roderick George. According to Broadway World, the performance will premiere at 92NY’s Kaufmann Concert Hall in New York City on Nov. 19… Continue reading Seth Parker Woods announces world premiere of multimedia concert tour “Difficult Grace”
Antoinette Perry releases CD “Moments Musicaux”
USC Thornton Keyboard Studies faculty member Antoinette Perry released “Moments Musicaux” on Navona Records in July. The album of solo piano music, which was recorded live in USC Thornton’s Newman Recital Hall, features a blend of German, Austrian, Russian and American music.
Rina Seo premiers composition at Carnegie Hall
USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music program alumna Rina Seo (DMA ‘19) performed her Carnegie Hall debut as a composer, conductor and pianist in collaboration with the Elite Chorus on Oct. 8. She conducted her choral composition “Now” and the English premiere of “Death Will Be Vanquished.”