New Opera West releases animated opera short
New Opera West, a nonprofit opera company co-founded by Vocal Arts doctoral student Emily Thebaut and Composition faculty member Mark Weiser, recently released “Pepito.” The animated dog opera written by Nicolas Lell Benavides, a doctoral student in the Composition program, is currently streaming on Vimeo. The work was animated by Esperanza Guevara, Connor Jacobs, and… Continue reading New Opera West releases animated opera short
Michael Tilson Thomas and Los Angeles Philharmonic win at 2021 GRAMMY Awards
The 63rd annual GRAMMY Awards, held virtually on Sunday, March 14, brought wins for faculty and alumni at USC Thornton. Celebrated conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, a Thornton alum and Judge Widney Professor at USC, won for Best Orchestral Performance for the San Francisco Symphony’s “Copland: Symphony No. 3.” And the many alumni and faculty who… Continue reading Michael Tilson Thomas and Los Angeles Philharmonic win at 2021 GRAMMY Awards
Morten Lauridsen named to Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center advisory board
Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Composition and Thornton alumnus Morten Lauridsen has been named as one of the Honorary Advisory Board Members of the Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center and will serve as a core member of the Honorary Board of Directors. Lauridsen is one of four prominent figures named to the new Board.… Continue reading Morten Lauridsen named to Oscar Hammerstein Museum and Theatre Education Center advisory board
LACO to premiere Luna Lab work by Anya Lagman
On Thursday, Feb. 11, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) will present the world premiere of a piece by sophomore Composition student Anya Lagman in a special “Luna Lab Meets LACO” online concert presented in partnership with the Kaufman Music Center in New York City. Lagman’s piece, “Unravel,” will be performed by LACO’s musicians alongside the… Continue reading LACO to premiere Luna Lab work by Anya Lagman
Adeliia Faizullina featured in The Washington Post
Adeliia Faizullina, a doctoral student in USC Thornton’s Composition program, was featured in an article in The Washington Post celebrating 21 “composers to watch” in 2021 who offer “exciting ways of imagining what our future together sounds like.” The article singles out two of Faizullina’s works as particular exemplars of her “elastic and evocative” work,… Continue reading Adeliia Faizullina featured in The Washington Post
Mark Weiser’s Music for Saxophone receives glowing reviews
USC Thornton Composition faculty member Mark Weiser’s album Music for Saxophone received glowing reviews from The Saxophone Symposium and The Saxophonist. In the most recent edition of The Saxophone Symposium, the journal of the North American Saxophone Alliance, Julia Nolan describes the album, featuring members of the Capitol Quartet, as “delightful,” “challenging,” and “wonderfully reflective.”… Continue reading Mark Weiser’s Music for Saxophone receives glowing reviews
Gerald Clayton scores new documentary about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
GRAMMY Award-nominated composer, pianist and USC Thornton alum Gerald Clayton (BM ‘07) wrote the score for “MLK/FBI,” a newly released award-winning documentary directed by Sam Pollard that uncovers the extent of the FBI’s targeted surveillance and harassment of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sub Pop described Clayton’s composition of the documentary’s theme as “a gorgeous,… Continue reading Gerald Clayton scores new documentary about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dale Trumbore shares virtual chorus experience in The Voice of OC
Dale Trumbore (MM ‘11), an alum of USC Thornton’s Composition program, was featured in The Voice of OC in an article about how the Orange County Women’s Chorus adapted its programming to offer unique online events. Trumbore was commissioned to compose a new piece, “What We Hand Over,” for the chorus’s holiday event, and shares… Continue reading Dale Trumbore shares virtual chorus experience in The Voice of OC
Peter Boyer composes music for presidential inauguration
Composer and USC Thornton alum Peter Boyer (GCRT ’96) received the honor of composing a new piece for the festivities surrounding the Jan. 20 inauguration of President Joe Biden. Boyer was featured in the Los Angeles Times in a story about the significance of the commission. Titled “Fanfare for Tomorrow,” the piece was commissioned to… Continue reading Peter Boyer composes music for presidential inauguration
Austin Wintory PlayStation blog explores the making of “The Pathless”
USC Thornton Composition alum Austin Wintory (BM ‘07) wrote a blog for PlayStation in which he shares a behind-the-scenes look at the making of his score for the game “The Pathless.” The score fuses multiple musical traditions from around the world in what Wintory calls a “global jam band.” “The resulting scope was significantly beyond… Continue reading Austin Wintory PlayStation blog explores the making of “The Pathless”