Clarinet student Eric Abramovitz takes new position with Nashville Symphony
Clarinetist Eric Abramovitz, a USC Thornton Winds & Percussion graduate student of faculty member Yehuda Gilad, was recently named the associate principal/E-flat/2nd clarinet with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra. This is the latest accolade in a banner year for Abramovitz, who also took 1st Prize for Classical Clarinet at the 2017 Vandoren Emerging Artist Competition and… Continue reading Clarinet student Eric Abramovitz takes new position with Nashville Symphony
Hear Now Music Festival features over 15 Thornton musicians
The seventh annual Hear Now Music Festival took place at the end of April, showcasing many of the most compelling artistic voices in Southern California new music, including a broad slate of USC Thornton students, faculty, and alumni. Pianist and alumnus Gernot Wolfgang (GCRT ’94, film scoring) serves as Associate Artistic Director of the festival,… Continue reading Hear Now Music Festival features over 15 Thornton musicians
Jeffrey Kahane receives accolades for Beethoven’s Ninth with LACO
USC Thornton Keyboard Studies faculty member Jeffrey Kahane received praise from both the Los Angeles Times and the Wall Street Journal for his work conducting Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. Kahane has served as LACO’s music director for 20 years, the longest of any in the ensemble’s history. This summer, he… Continue reading Jeffrey Kahane receives accolades for Beethoven’s Ninth with LACO
Bassist Robin Kesselman performs with Houston Symphony Orchestra
USC Thornton alumnus Robin Kesselman (’12, double bass), principal bass of the Houston Symphony Orchestra, enjoyed his solo debut with the ensemble earlier this year. Kesselman performed Serge Koussevitzky’s Concerto for Double Bass on the January program, which featured contemporary music from the Americas and was led by conductor Andrés Orozco-Estrada. “Koussevitzky was an incredible… Continue reading Bassist Robin Kesselman performs with Houston Symphony Orchestra
Composer Ted Hearne mixes music and politics
Composer and USC Thornton faculty member Ted Hearne recently released a new album, Sound from the Bench. The politically-charged album features the Philadelphia-based Crossing Choir, conducted by Donald Nally, performing four of Hearne’s works with guitarists Taylor Levine and James Moore and drummer Ron Wiltrout. Sound from the Bench explores subjects including the Iraq War,… Continue reading Composer Ted Hearne mixes music and politics
Alumna Erika Binsley to premiere commission at D.C. Horn Day
USC Thornton Winds & Percussion alumna Erika Binsley (BM ’12, Horn) will premiere Nick Norton’s Gone to the Other Shore on May 7th at D.C. Horn Day in Washington, D.C., where she is a featured artist. Binsley commissioned the strikingly-contemporary piece, which features “sounds from many of the world’s oceans” and includes electronic instrumentation, with… Continue reading Alumna Erika Binsley to premiere commission at D.C. Horn Day
“Rhythms + Visions” to light up the School of Cinematic Arts this Friday
This Friday, April 28th, USC’s School of Cinematic Arts will come to life with a spectacular evening festival of musical performances, interactive animation, projections, inflatables, and virtual reality experiences. The Visions & Voices-produced event, Rhythms + Visions / Expanded + Live 3, will feature work by innovative artists Refik Anadol, Miwa Matreyek, and Patterson +… Continue reading “Rhythms + Visions” to light up the School of Cinematic Arts this Friday
Donald Crockett, Thornton alumni featured at Caramoor
USC Thornton Composition chair Donald Crockett (MM ’76) recently visited the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts in Katonah, New York, where the Argus Quartet is preparing his commissioned string quartet for its July premiere. Thornton alumni and faculty feature prominently throughout the Center’s spring and summer seasons. The Los Angeles-based Argus Quartet, which… Continue reading Donald Crockett, Thornton alumni featured at Caramoor
Doctoral student Scott Rieker leads Torrance Civic Chorale
Scott Rieker, a DMA candidate in the USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music program, was recently named Artistic Director of the Torrance Civic Chorale. The fourth Artistic Director in the ensemble’s 56-year history, Rieker looks forward to “finding new levels of artistic, beautiful, healthy singing that will appeal to the wonderfully diverse population of the… Continue reading Doctoral student Scott Rieker leads Torrance Civic Chorale
Jeffrey Kahane profiled in the Wall Street Journal
USC Thornton faculty member Jeffrey Kahane was profiled in the April 17 issue of the Wall Street Journal about his 20 years as music director of Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO). In May, at the conclusion of the orchestra’s 2016-17 season, Kahane will retire from LACO to teach in Thornton’s Keyboard Studies program full time.… Continue reading Jeffrey Kahane profiled in the Wall Street Journal