Musical America names Benjamin Mitchell and Christopher Koelsch “Professionals of the Year”
Musical America has named USC Thornton student Benjamin Mitchell as one of its “Professionals of the Year,” in a focus on artistic innovators and entrepreneurs. Mitchell, a clarinetist and GCRT candidate in the Arts Leadership program, founded the Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra, which is currently thriving in its third season. Christopher Koelsch, president and CEO of… Continue reading Musical America names Benjamin Mitchell and Christopher Koelsch “Professionals of the Year”
“The New Yorker” features Ted Hearne’s oratorio, “The Source”
The Source, a contemporary oratorio by composer and USC Thornton faculty member Ted Hearne, was a subject of “Modern Opera Thrives in L.A.,” an article in the December 12 issue of The New Yorker. Music critic Alex Ross wrote admiringly of Hearne’s “mesmerizing and disquieting collage of vocal, instrumental, and recorded sounds,” which was presented… Continue reading “The New Yorker” features Ted Hearne’s oratorio, “The Source”
Thornton Winners at Los Angeles International Liszt Competition
Several students of the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies department took prizes at the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition held last month at Azusa Pacific University. Hanbo Ma (pictured at left), a DMA candidate under professor Daniel Pollack, won the top prize in the prestigious Budapest Concert Division, earning a solo recital tour to Washington D.C.,… Continue reading Thornton Winners at Los Angeles International Liszt Competition
Jules Pegram receives award at ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop
Alumnus Jules Pegram (BM ’13, Composition) received the Harold Arlen Film & TV Award at the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Film Scoring Workshop this past summer. The workshop gives selected composers the opportunity to learn about music in the film industry from mentors who are studio executives, agents, attorneys, editors, and… Continue reading Jules Pegram receives award at ASCAP Film Scoring Workshop
Kristof Van Grysperre conducts New York City Opera production of “Fallujah”
Kristof Van Grysperre (MM ’02, Conducting, DMA ’05, Keyboard Collaborative Arts) made his New York City Opera debut conducting the November production of Fallujah, an opera by composer Tobin Stokes inspired by a U.S. Marine’s struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder after a tour of duty in Iraq. Van Grysperre also conducted the opera’s world premiere… Continue reading Kristof Van Grysperre conducts New York City Opera production of “Fallujah”
Eric Abramovitz joins alumnus Donald Foster in the Santa Barbara Symphony clarinet section
Clarinetist Eric Abramovitz, a USC Thornton Winds & Percussion graduate student of faculty member Yehuda Gilad, has won the 2nd/Eb clarinet position with the Santa Barbara Symphony. The ensemble also includes Thornton alumnus Donald T. Foster (MM ’96) as the principal clarinet.
Violinist, alumna Elizabeth Pitcairn performs on Trojan Vision
Violinist and USC Thornton Strings alumna Elizabeth Pitcairn (’02) recently appeared on Trojan Vision’s nightly talk show, CU@USC. Pitcairn discussed the history behind her legendary 1720 Red Mendelssohn Stradivarius violin and then performed with the instrument. close In her career as a soloist, Pitcairn has performed in concert halls such as the Kimmel Center, Carnegie… Continue reading Violinist, alumna Elizabeth Pitcairn performs on Trojan Vision
Michael Lee to participate in the Red Note Music Festival
USC Thornton Composition doctoral candidate Michael Lee has been selected as one of 8 composers to participate in the 2017 Red Note New Music Festival. The festival, organized by Illinois State University, is a week-long composition workshop and performance series, at which student works are developed and performed in collaboration with professional musicians, including the… Continue reading Michael Lee to participate in the Red Note Music Festival
International Artist Fellow Wesley Chu featured in web profile
Wesley Chu, an International Artist Fellow studying in the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies department, was recently profiled on the website of the USC Office of International Services in a piece titled “Coffee with ‘SC Celebrity Wesley Chu.” A piano prodigy born in Calgary, Canada, Chu had performed for Nelson Mandela and completed the entire Canadian… Continue reading International Artist Fellow Wesley Chu featured in web profile
Julia Adolphe profiled by The New Yorker ahead of NY Philharmonic premiere
Composer and USC Thornton DMA candidate Julia Adolphe (MM ’12, composition) is the subject of a short profile in the Nov. 21 issue of The New Yorker, ahead of the premiere of her viola concerto, Unearth, Release, with the New York Philharmonic this week. Music critic Alex Ross explored the development of the concerto, which… Continue reading Julia Adolphe profiled by The New Yorker ahead of NY Philharmonic premiere