Ted Hearne premieres new work with Michael Tilson Thomas and the National Youth Symphony
On Thursday, July 19th, the National Youth Orchestra of the USA will premiere a new work by composer and USC Thornton faculty member Ted Hearne, under the baton of alumnus Michael Tilson Thomas (BM ’67, MM ’76), a Judge Widney Professor of Music at USC. Hearne’s Brass Tacks was commissioned by Carnegie Hall, where the… Continue reading Ted Hearne premieres new work with Michael Tilson Thomas and the National Youth Symphony
Pianist Robert Thies named Artistic Director of South Bay Chamber Music Society
Pianist Robert Thies (BM ’93, MM ’95), an alumnus of the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies program, has been appointed Artistic Director of the South Bay Chamber Music Society, which presents about 15 concerts each season in venues across the South Bay. Thies won the Gold Medal at the Second International Prokofiev Competition in 1995 and… Continue reading Pianist Robert Thies named Artistic Director of South Bay Chamber Music Society
Michael Lee premieres chamber work with New Orleans Chamber Orchestra
In June, composer and USC Thornton alumnus Michael Lee’s (DMA ’17) chamber work for strings and piano, Echoes for Strings and Piano, received its world premiere at the Marigny Opera House by the New Orleans Chamber Orchestra. Lee was the winner of the ensemble’s Spectri Sonori Composition Competition. Lee’s 2015 work for classical guitar, Unmasked,… Continue reading Michael Lee premieres chamber work with New Orleans Chamber Orchestra
Alumnus Andrew Goldman publishes neurological research about improvisational musicianship
Andrew Goldman (’08), a piano performance and neuroscience alumnus of USC Thornton and USC Dornsife, recently published a research paper, “Improvisation experience predicts how musicians categorize musical structures,” in the Psychology of Music journal. Goldman, who earned his PhD from the University of Cambridge, is currently a Presidential Scholar in Society and Neuroscience at Columbia… Continue reading Alumnus Andrew Goldman publishes neurological research about improvisational musicianship
Composer, exchange student Tuomas Kettunen shares collaborative work
Finnish composer Tuomas Kettunen, a master’s student at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, recently concluded a semester as an exchange student at USC Thornton, where he studied with Donald Crockett and took classes in orchestration, game scoring, and music technology. Kettunen shared the fruits of his work from the Writer-Composer class, led by Lisa Sylvester,… Continue reading Composer, exchange student Tuomas Kettunen shares collaborative work
Troy Quinn named music director of Venice Symphony
Troy Quinn (DMA ’14), a member of the USC Thornton Conducting faculty and a graduate of the school’s Choral & Sacred Music program, has been selected as music director of the Venice Symphony Orchestra in Venice, Florida. Quinn, who conducted May concerts with the orchestra featuring Thornton faculty member and former concertmaster of the New… Continue reading Troy Quinn named music director of Venice Symphony
Jeffrey Kahane premieres Sirota septet at the Sarasota Music Festival
Pianist Jeffrey Kahane, a member of the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies faculty, recently concluded his second year as music director of the Sarasota Music Festival with the world premiere of Robert Sirota’s Luminous Bodies septet, in collaboration with the yMusic ensemble. The work’s title refers to the composers that influenced Sirota, including Gershwin, Copland, Bernstein,… Continue reading Jeffrey Kahane premieres Sirota septet at the Sarasota Music Festival
Thornton brass musicians join prestigious military ensembles
Two USC Thornton musicians have recently joined bands in the nation’s capital. Jake Kraft (BM ’14) took a trombone position with the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” while trumpeter and masters candidate Seth Johnson joined the United States Navy Concert Band and Ceremonial Band. Johnson described the position with the Navy’s premiere ensemble as… Continue reading Thornton brass musicians join prestigious military ensembles
Rod Gilfry warmly reviewed for “Crossing”
Baritone Rod Gilfry, a member of the USC Thornton Vocal Arts & Opera faculty, recently starred in a concert presentation of Matthew Aucoin’s opera, Crossing, at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills. Produced by the LA Opera, the work was inspired by poet Walt Whitman’s experiences during the Civil War… Continue reading Rod Gilfry warmly reviewed for “Crossing”
Students, faculty, and alumni featured in Mozart summer festivals
USC Thornton students, faculty, and alumni will be featured in Mozart festivals on both coasts this summer. Beginning June 1st, the Mainly Mozart Festival takes over venues across San Diego County for its 30th anniversary season. On June 7th, Martin Chalifour, Thornton faculty member and concertmaster of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, teams with classical guitarist… Continue reading Students, faculty, and alumni featured in Mozart summer festivals