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    Composer Daniel Slatkin

    LA Phil to perform Daniel Slatkin’s “Voyager 130” at the Hollywood Bowl

    July 21, 2025

    On July 24, the Los Angeles Philharmonic will perform USC Thornton alumnus Daniel Slatkin’s (’16) “Voyager 130” at the Hollywood Bowl. The piece was inspired by the Golden Record on NASA’s Voyager spacecraft that carries Earth’s music to the edge of interstellar space. Conducted by Leonard Slatkin, the concert features violinist and USC Thornton Strings… Continue reading LA Phil to perform Daniel Slatkin’s “Voyager 130” at the Hollywood Bowl


    Composer Saunder Choi

    Saunder Choi premiered “To Imagine Creation” at The Kennedy Center

    July 14, 2025

    USC Thornton Composition program alum Saunder Choi (MM ’16) presented the world premiere of his piece, “To Imagine Creation,” at The Kennedy Center on June 15. The piece was commissioned by the Choral Arts Society of Washington for their 60th anniversary concert. It features text written by poet Brian Sonia-Wallace. Choi is a Los Angeles-based… Continue reading Saunder Choi premiered “To Imagine Creation” at The Kennedy Center


    Photo of Nina Shekhar standing outside in sunlight.

    Nina Shekhar premiered “In Bloom” with Commonwealth Youth Choir

    July 2, 2025

    Composer, multimedia artist and USC Thornton alumna Nina Shekhar (MM ’20) presented the world premiere of her piece, “In Bloom,” with the Commonwealth Youth Choir. The piece is inspired by Shekhar’s experience leading workshops with the young singers and watching them grow. “Between these workshops, the singers shared over 200 pages of responses with me,… Continue reading Nina Shekhar premiered “In Bloom” with Commonwealth Youth Choir


    Composer Austin Wintory conducting an orchestra behind a podium on a sound stage.

    Austin Wintory composed score for “Eternal Strands”

    June 18, 2025

    USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Austin Wintory (‘07) composed the score for the video game “Eternal Strands,” developed by Yellow Brick Games. “Eternal Strands” is a fantasy, action-adventure video game starring a female protagonist with magical abilities who must save the world. “This was about four years of collaboration and joyous experimentation,” Wintory shared in… Continue reading Austin Wintory composed score for “Eternal Strands”


    The SAKURA Cello Quintet.

    SAKURA Cello Quintet debuts Donald Crockett’s “Carving an Alphabet”

    June 11, 2025

    On May 18, the SAKURA Cello Quintet gave the debut performance of Carving an Alphabet, a set of 12 madrigals for five cellos, written by USC Thornton Chair of Composition Donald Crockett for New Music USA. The SAKURA Cello Quintet consists of Thornton alumni Stella Cho (’12, MM ’14, DMA ’22), Michael Kaufman (MM ’12,… Continue reading SAKURA Cello Quintet debuts Donald Crockett’s “Carving an Alphabet”


    Cellist Quenton Blache holding his instrument and sitting in a library.

    Quenton Blache released debut studio recording, “To Whom I Pray”

    May 28, 2025

    USC Thornton composition and cello performance alumnus Quenton Blache (‘23) released his debut studio recording, “To Whom I Pray,” as a premiere on I CARE IF YOU LISTEN, the award-winning multimedia hub for living music creators powered by American Composers Forum (ACF). Written for string quintet and electronics, the piece is a collaboration between the… Continue reading Quenton Blache released debut studio recording, “To Whom I Pray”


    Composer Gibson Mahnke

    Gibson Mahnke’s “Through this ocean glass” premieres at Hear Now Music Festival

    May 12, 2025

    USC Thornton Composition program student Gibson Mahnke’s piece Through this ocean glass premiered at the Hear Now Music Festival on April 13. The festival, which took place at 2200 Arts + Archives in Los Angeles, is one of several concerts spotlighting primarily young composers involved with university music programs. The next concert takes place at… Continue reading Gibson Mahnke’s “Through this ocean glass” premieres at Hear Now Music Festival


    Cellist Yo-Yo Ma and violinist Anne Akiko Meyers perform with students.

    Amanda Nova plays with Yo-Yo Ma at fundraiser celebration for LAUSD instrument repair program

    April 30, 2025

    USC Thornton Keyboard Studies program student Amanda Nova played with cellist Yo-Yo Ma at a fundraiser event on April 6, celebrating a $1 million gift to “The Last Repair Shop” campaign. Donations to the fundraiser will help safeguard the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) program providing 130,000 free, repaired instruments for students. A Fairfax… Continue reading Amanda Nova plays with Yo-Yo Ma at fundraiser celebration for LAUSD instrument repair program


    Black & white artistic photo of composer Tyler Eschendal.

    Tyler Eschendal premiered “ACTIONS” at Lineage Performing Arts Center

    April 21, 2025

    USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Tyler Eschendal (MM ’18) premiered his latest work, “ACTIONS,” at the Lineage Performing Arts Center in Pasadena on March 29-30. According to the program note, “ACTIONS” is part of five interconnected movements exploring the musicality of speech and communication. Each movement presents a different verbal or physical action (Arguing, Acting,… Continue reading Tyler Eschendal premiered “ACTIONS” at Lineage Performing Arts Center


    Oliviana Marie

    Oliviana Marie Wins Collegiate Composition Competition

    April 2, 2025

    USC Thornton Composition program student Oliviana Marie received two awards at the inaugural Ruth Wales duPont Collegiate Composition Competition presented by American Pops Orchestra (APO), winning first prize in the Popular Music Division and the Audience Selection Award for her original piece, “Azalea Woods.” The debut APO performance of all six finalists’ compositions in both… Continue reading Oliviana Marie Wins Collegiate Composition Competition