Nicholas Davies and Seth Johnson win at Pasadena Showcase House competition
Two USC Thornton students have earned top prizes at the 32nd annual Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts (PSHA) Instrumental Competition, which took place Nov. 11th, 2017. Trumpet player and master’s student Seth Johnson took first prize in the Brass category. Johnson won a sub-section trumpet Position with the Sinfonia Gulf Coast Symphony last year.… Continue reading Nicholas Davies and Seth Johnson win at Pasadena Showcase House competition
Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium” featured in advent calendar
O Magnum Mysterium, a beloved choral work by composer and USC Thornton faculty member Morten Lauridsen (’66, MA’68, DMA’74), has been selected as one of 24 works featured in the ORA ensemble’s digital advent calendar. The Los Angeles Master Chorale commissioned Lauridsen’s piece in 1994, which helped to launch the acclaimed composer’s international career. ORA… Continue reading Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium” featured in advent calendar
Lina Bahn offers auditioning advice on The Violin Channel
The Violin Channel recently turned to USC Thornton Strings faculty member Lina Bahn for its “Ask the Pros” series on the topic of auditioning for music schools. In addition to offering advice about preparation, Bahn pointed to the shortcomings of the audition process as opportunities to grow and develop as a musician. Her tips for… Continue reading Lina Bahn offers auditioning advice on The Violin Channel
Julia Adolphe is Musical America’s New Artist of the Month
Composer Julia Adolphe (MM ’12, composition), a USC Thornton doctoral candidate, is Musical America’s New Artist of the Month for December. In a profile on the organization’s website, Adolphe cited the gender diversity of Thornton’s Composition program as one of the reasons she chose to study at USC. “I didn’t see that anywhere else,” she… Continue reading Julia Adolphe is Musical America’s New Artist of the Month
Violin alumni win orchestral positions
Two USC Thornton Strings alumni have recently won orchestral positions. Helen Kim (BM ’09) was appointed principal 2nd violin of the San Francisco Symphony in the spring of 2017. And Michelle Black (BM ’11) won a first violin position with the Indianapolis Symphony in May. Both were students of faculty member Margaret Batjer, who serves… Continue reading Violin alumni win orchestral positions
“Godless” scored by Composition alumnus Carlos Rivera
USC Thornton Composition alumnus Carlos Rivera (MM ’04, DMA ’10) recently scored the hit Netflix series Godless, produced by Steven Soderbergh and written and directed by Scott Frank. This isn’t the first time Rivera has composed for a Western – he previously composed the soundtrack for Frank’s 2014 feature film, A Walk Among the Tombstones.… Continue reading “Godless” scored by Composition alumnus Carlos Rivera
College Magazine surveys “10 Music Courses at USC to Jump Start Your Music Career”
College Magazine recently put USC Thornton at the center of an article exploring college courses to “Jump Start Your Music Career.” From classes in jazz performance and music theory to Music and Science Fiction and Thornton’s legendary Beatles class, the piece surveys the many innovative learning opportunities available to Thornton music students. The article puts… Continue reading College Magazine surveys “10 Music Courses at USC to Jump Start Your Music Career”
Alumnus Martin Leung performs with the Academic Leipzig Orchestra
On November 13th, Keyboard Studies alumnus Martin Leung (DMA ’15, piano) performed Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Akademisches Orchester Leipzig (Academic Leipzig Orchestra) under maestro Horst Förster. Leung received the opportunity to perform at the Leipzig Gewandhaus after winning first prize in the concerto division of the Los Angeles Liszt Piano competition last… Continue reading Alumnus Martin Leung performs with the Academic Leipzig Orchestra
This Saturday, Thornton celebrates new music from “Noon to Midnight” with the LA Phil
On Saturday, November 18th, the Los Angeles Philharmonic will welcome the city’s most adventurous music audiences to Walt Disney Concert Hall for a day-long celebration of contemporary composition, Noon to Midnight. In addition to performances by Steven Schick, Rage Thormbones, LA Signal Lab, Los Angeles Electric 8, wild Up, red fish blue fish, gnarwhallaby, SASSAS,… Continue reading This Saturday, Thornton celebrates new music from “Noon to Midnight” with the LA Phil
Thornton students sweep video performance competition
Students from USC Thornton’s Classical Division have swept the first James Ramos International Video Competition, a joint venture of the California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT) and Social Media Works. Recognizing that Youtube and Facebook have become important video platforms for musicians to audition and to share their artistry with the world, the competition… Continue reading Thornton students sweep video performance competition