Thornton faculty and alumni join MusiCares relief benefit
USC Thornton faculty members and alumni are among the many artists and composers contributing their talents to “Soundtrack of Our Lives: A Celebration for the Film & TV Music Community,” an online benefit show for the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund. Screen Scoring alum Jongnic Bontemps (GCRT ’12), Composition alumni Austin Wintory (BM ’07) and Michael… Continue reading Thornton faculty and alumni join MusiCares relief benefit
HOCKET launches new commission series #What2020SoundsLike
USC Thornton alumni Sarah Gibson (MM ’10, DMA ’15) and Thomas Kotcheff (MM ’12, DMA ‘19), who together form piano duo HOCKET, have launched a new commission series called #What2020SoundsLike. They have commissioned 50 composers to create new, short works between 15 and 45 seconds in length, which the duo will record and release on… Continue reading HOCKET launches new commission series #What2020SoundsLike
Juan Pablo Contreras selected for New Music USA’s Amplifying Voices program
Juan Pablo Contreras, a doctoral candidate in Composition and Latin GRAMMY nominee, has been named one of six composers in New Music USA’s 2020 Amplifying Voices program. With support from Sphinx Venture Fund, the program partners with six lead orchestras to co-commission new orchestral works by composers whose voices are not often represented in orchestral… Continue reading Juan Pablo Contreras selected for New Music USA’s Amplifying Voices program
Luca Mendoza and USC Thornton jazz ensembles win in DownBeat’s 43rd Annual Student Music Awards
The USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra, the Thornton Monday Night Band, and undergraduate pianist and composer Luca Mendoza were winners in DownBeat’s 43rd Annual Student Music Awards. The awards will be published in DownBeat’s June issue. The USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra, led by Bob Mintzer, won in the category Large Jazz Ensemble for Graduate College Outstanding… Continue reading Luca Mendoza and USC Thornton jazz ensembles win in DownBeat’s 43rd Annual Student Music Awards
Ted Hearne releases new album, Place, from New Amsterdam Records
Composition faculty member Ted Hearne released a new album, Place, from New Amsterdam Records on April 3. The 72-minute reflection on gentrification and displacement is a collaboration with poet Saul Williams. The work was set to have its West Coast premiere March 24 with the LA Philharmonic New Music Group as part of the group’s… Continue reading Ted Hearne releases new album, Place, from New Amsterdam Records
Juan Pablo Contreras and Sarah Gibson discuss their craft in LACO roundtable
Doctoral candidate Juan Pablo Contreras and alum Sarah Gibson, both accomplished composers, appeared in the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s first installment of “Table Talk,” a series of roundtable discussions. Originally recorded in February, before safer at home orders took effect, Contreras and Gibson are joined by José Enrique González Medina and Derrick Spiva Jr. in… Continue reading Juan Pablo Contreras and Sarah Gibson discuss their craft in LACO roundtable
Thornton students talk transition to remote classes with Daily Trojan
In an article published April 13, the Daily Trojan interviewed students from USC Thornton and other USC performing arts schools about the unique challenges they faced in the transition to remote instruction, and how they and their instructors have adapted to the new format. Dominic Anzalone, a sophomore in the Popular Music program, told the… Continue reading Thornton students talk transition to remote classes with Daily Trojan
Thornton artists compose new works for online commissioning project “Alone Together”
USC Thornton student, alumni and faculty artists have joined violinist Jennifer Koh’s collaborative online commissioning project, Alone Together, created as a way to bring composers together to create new music for live streamed performances while social distancing. The project has received acclaim for its ingenuity and proactive approach to elevating the work of composers during… Continue reading Thornton artists compose new works for online commissioning project “Alone Together”
Award-winning documentary scored by Cody Westheimer to make TV debut in honor of Earth Day
“The Story of Plastic,” an award-winning documentary scored by USC Thornton Composition alum Cody Westheimer (BM ’01) alongside Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, will make its U.S. television debut on Discovery Channel in honor of Earth Day. The documentary, directed by Deia Schlosberg, was premiered at the Mill Valley Movie Pageant and won the Viewers… Continue reading Award-winning documentary scored by Cody Westheimer to make TV debut in honor of Earth Day
Daily Trojan highlights Live! From Somewhere performance series
The Daily Trojan, USC’s student-led newspaper, recently highlighted USC Thornton’s new video series, Live! From Somewhere. The series was launched on March 16 in response to recent closures and event cancellations, and as the school’s artists have looked for ways to continue making music while social distancing. Live! From Somewhere presents homemade performances by Thornton… Continue reading Daily Trojan highlights Live! From Somewhere performance series