Composition students and alums win orchestral competitions
USC Thornton Composition students and alumni continue to garner accolades. Two major Midwestern orchestras will feature compositions by USC students and alumni. “Even in Paradise,” by Patrick O’Malley (MM ’15, DMA candidate), and “Kaman Fantasy,” by Saad Haddad (BM, ’14), will be performed as part of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra’s Earshot program, under the baton… Continue reading Composition students and alums win orchestral competitions
Ted Hearne’s oratorio, “The Source,“ released as album
Composer Ted Hearne, a faculty member of the USC Thornton Composition department, has released a new album of his oratorio, “The Source.” Built around short samples of spoken language, snippets of popular music, and disjointed instrumental riffs, the 2014 work examines the experience of US Army Private Chelsea Manning, who infamously leaked classified military documents… Continue reading Ted Hearne’s oratorio, “The Source,“ released as album
Ralph Kirshbaum
Texas-born cellist Ralph Kirshbaum has performed with many of the world’s great orchestras, including the Boston and Chicago Symphony Orchestras, the San Francisco, Pittsburgh, BBC and London Symphonies, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, London Philharmonia, Zurich Tonhalle, Orchestre de Paris and Israel Philharmonic, along with major orchestras in Holland, Germany, Spain, Scandinavia, Australia… Continue reading Ralph Kirshbaum
Frank Ticheli’s “Radiant Voices” to be performed by Long Beach Symphony
An orchestral work by USC Thornton Composition professor Frank Ticheli will be performed by the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 8:00pm. Ticheli’s bold and percussive “Radiant Voices,” composed in the after-light of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, will feature violin soloist Heather Clark, under the baton of conductor Edward Cumming.… Continue reading Frank Ticheli’s “Radiant Voices” to be performed by Long Beach Symphony
Violinist Annelle Gregory performs in Encinitas and Torrance concerts
Violinist Annelle Gregory (BM ’17, violin), a student of USC Thornton Strings professor Glenn Dicterow, as well as laureate of the 2013 Stradivarius International Violin Competition and the 2015 National Sphinx Competition, was a featured performer in two recent concerts. Gregory performed for the city of Encinitas’ Music by the Sea concert series and the… Continue reading Violinist Annelle Gregory performs in Encinitas and Torrance concerts
Composer Mark Weiser’s “High Velocity” wins two prizes
Mark Weiser, of the USC Thornton Composition faculty, has won notoriety for his 2012 work, High Velocity. The solo piano piece won first prize at The Ear, a recent concert event in New York City, and was awarded the 2015 International Heckscher Composition Prize by Ithaca College. High Velocity has been recorded by pianist Hannah… Continue reading Composer Mark Weiser’s “High Velocity” wins two prizes
Alumnus Cameron O’Connor wins Frances Walton Competition
This past summer, classical guitarist and alumnus Cameron O’Connor (DMA ’14) was one of four soloist award winners of the Frances Walton Competition in Seattle, WA. The competition is open to classical performers of piano, voice, strings and wind instruments, who are residents or students in Washington, Oregon, Montana, Idaho, California or Alaska. Soloist winners… Continue reading Alumnus Cameron O’Connor wins Frances Walton Competition
Alumnus Cody Westheimer scores new IMAX film
USC Thornton alumnus Cody Westheimer (BM ’01, composition) scored the music for the new IMAX film, “Journey to Space 3D,” which premiered at the California Science Center in Los Angeles last week. For the premiere event, Westheimer conducted student members of the USC Thornton Symphony in sections of the film score, in the shadow of… Continue reading Alumnus Cody Westheimer scores new IMAX film
Keyboard Studies students win prizes at Seattle International Piano Competition
USC Thornton’s Keyboard Studies department set an impressive benchmark at the 2015 Seattle International Piano Festival & Competition, hosted by the Seattle Symphony on October 17, with students and alumni bringing home several prizes. Sam Grodin, a DMA candidate studying with Lucinda Carver, took the Silver medal in the Professional division and its accompanying $1000… Continue reading Keyboard Studies students win prizes at Seattle International Piano Competition
Hui Jin and Aram Arakelyan perform at the USC Global Conference in Shanghai
Tenor Hui Jin, an International Artist Fellow and doctoral candidate of the USC Thornton Vocal Arts and Opera program, performed for attendees of the USC Global Conference in Shanghai last week, accompanied on piano by Keyboard Studies DMA candidate Aram Arakelyan. Jin is a highly-regarded tenor from Beijing who has appeared in numerous opera productions… Continue reading Hui Jin and Aram Arakelyan perform at the USC Global Conference in Shanghai