Gibson Mahnke’s “Through this ocean glass” premieres at Hear Now Music Festival
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
Amanda Nova plays with Yo-Yo Ma at fundraiser celebration for LAUSD instrument repair program
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
Tyler Eschendal premiered “ACTIONS” at Lineage Performing Arts Center
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 Wins Collegiate Composition Competition
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
Juan Pablo Contreras named co-chair of New Music USA’s Board of Directors
Juan Pablo Contreras (DMA ’21), a USC Thornton Composition program faculty member and alumnus, was named the new co-chair of New Music USA’s Board of Directors alongside Anne-Marie Spataru, effective July 1, 2025. Contreras and Spataru will guide New Music USA into its next chapter, as the organization’s Board begins recruitment for its next president… Continue reading Juan Pablo Contreras named co-chair of New Music USA’s Board of Directors
Camae Ayewa Receives Acclaim in Minneapolis & Philadelphia
USC Thornton Composition program faculty member Camae Ayewa (Moor Mother) was named on a list of the “Top 10 Classical Music Events of 2024” by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “In one of the most powerful artistic experiences I’ve had this century, the audaciously courageous composer and poet Camae Ayewa and seven musicians confronted the legacy… Continue reading Camae Ayewa Receives Acclaim in Minneapolis & Philadelphia
Learning Through Collaboration
Thornton Student Ambassadors Madeline Clara Cheng, Alyssa Holland and Oliviana Marie share highlights from their collaborations as USC Thornton students.
Michael Abels and Austin Wintory commissioned by LACO to create new orchestral works
USC Thornton alumni Michael Abels (‘84) and Austin Wintory (‘07) were recently commissioned by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to compose original orchestral works for the concert hall. LACO received $2 million from the “Joan and Jeff Beal Fund for Living Composers” to commission the composers. Abels is expected to write a concerto for the… Continue reading Michael Abels and Austin Wintory commissioned by LACO to create new orchestral works
Katya Richardson wins New York Emmy for “Keeping the Pinelands” score
USC Thornton Composition program alumna Katya Richardson (’19) won a New York Emmy Award for composing the score to the PBS special, Keeping the Pinelands. The documentary examines how people are finding new ways to help the forests of the New Jersey Pine Barrens survive. This is the composer’s first Emmy Award. *** Photo credit:… Continue reading Katya Richardson wins New York Emmy for “Keeping the Pinelands” score
Robert Alexander’s piece “That Thing” premieres with Stephen F. Austin State University Wind Ensemble
The Stephen F. Austin (SFA) State University Wind Ensemble premiered USC Thornton Composition alumnus Robert Alexander’s (’18) piece, “That Thing,” on Oct. 15 in the Griffith Fine Arts Building’s Turner Auditorium in Nacogdoches, Texas. The piece was part of the Composing in the Wilderness program, led by adventurer-composer Stephen Lias and offered by the Fairbanks… Continue reading Robert Alexander’s piece “That Thing” premieres with Stephen F. Austin State University Wind Ensemble