Nina C. Young to premiere new work with New York Philharmonic
USC Thornton Composition faculty member Nina C. Young will premiere a new work with the New York Philharmonic on Feb. 5, with three additional performances through Feb. 11. Young’s piece, “Tread Softly,” was commissioned as part of the Philharmonic’s Project 19 initiative to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment with… Continue reading Nina C. Young to premiere new work with New York Philharmonic
NEA grants to fund new and continued work by USC Thornton faculty and alumni
The latest round of grants awarded by the National Endowment for the Arts will fuel new and continued work by USC Thornton faculty and alumni. The LA Master Chorale, led by artistic director and USC Thornton Keyboard Studies alum Grant Gershon (BM ’85), was awarded funding for a series of contemporary choral music concerts, as… Continue reading NEA grants to fund new and continued work by USC Thornton faculty and alumni
Celka Ojakangas selected as resident composer for Mizzou International Composers Festival
Composition alum and current DMA candidate Celka Ojakangas (MM ’18) has been selected to appear as one of eight resident composers at the 2020 Mizzou International Composers Festival (MICF). Ojakangas was selected from among a record 346 entrants from 24 countries. As a resident composer, Ojakangas will give presentations about her work, take composition lessons… Continue reading Celka Ojakangas selected as resident composer for Mizzou International Composers Festival
$1M gift ensures continued collaboration between USC Thornton, Kaufman School of Dance
The USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance has received an anonymous $1 million gift, which will be used specifically to support continued artistic collaboration with USC Thornton. The two schools already share a history of collaborative programming, such as the annual Choreographers & Composers concert, which pairs Thornton composer with Kaufman dancers to produce new… Continue reading $1M gift ensures continued collaboration between USC Thornton, Kaufman School of Dance
Ted Hearne to premiere new opera in partnership with Beth Morrison Projects
Beth Morrison Projects, Trinity Church Wall Street, and PROTOTYPE Festival have announced a multi-year partnership that will produce the premieres of five new operas over the next three seasons, including the 2022 premiere of “Slaying of Innocence,” a new opera composed by Ted Hearne, acclaimed composer, performer and USC Thornton Composition faculty member. The work… Continue reading Ted Hearne to premiere new opera in partnership with Beth Morrison Projects
Thomas Newman receives Oscar nomination for “1917” score
USC Thornton Board of Councilors member and award-winning composer Thomas Newman has been nominated for an Oscar in the category of “Music (Original Score)” for his score of the World War I film “1917”. Newman faced a unique challenge scoring “1917,” which was shot to appear as one continuous take, at an unrelenting pace. The… Continue reading Thomas Newman receives Oscar nomination for “1917” score
Laura Karpman composes music for concert celebrating 100 years of women’s suffrage
Laura Karpman, USC Thornton Screen Scoring faculty member and Emmy-winning composer, will debut a new composition on Jan. 18 at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City’s “…When there are nine,” a production celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment. Karpman and her collaborator, librettist Kelley Rourke, composed the song cycle “And Still We Dream”… Continue reading Laura Karpman composes music for concert celebrating 100 years of women’s suffrage
Veronika Krausas’ “Ghost Opera” named among decade’s best operas
Ghost Opera, a full-length dramatic opera by Composition faculty member Veronika Krausas, was recently named among the best operas of the decade by Opera Canada. Writer Stephan Bonfield praises the production as “aesthetically the most beautiful opera I saw this past decade.” The 2019 co-production between Calgary Opera and Old Trout Puppet Workshop featured artfully… Continue reading Veronika Krausas’ “Ghost Opera” named among decade’s best operas
Thornton alumni end 2019 with awards nominations
Composition alumni Michael Abels (BM ’84) and Austin Wintory (BM ’07), and USC Thornton Board of Councilors member Thomas Newman, are all ending 2019 with nominations for the 2020 awards season. All three composers are nominated for the inaugural SCL Awards, granted by the Society of Composers & Lyricists: Abels’ “Us” score is nominated for… Continue reading Thornton alumni end 2019 with awards nominations
Morten Lauridsen and Grant Gershon discuss 25th anniversary of “O Magnem Mysterium” on KUSC
USC Thornton alum Grant Gershon (BM ’85) and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Composition and Thornton alum Morten Lauridsen recently appeared on KUSC’s Arts Alive to discuss the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s 25th anniversary of Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium.” The Master Chorale premiered the iconic work, and will perform it on Sunday, Dec. 15 in celebration… Continue reading Morten Lauridsen and Grant Gershon discuss 25th anniversary of “O Magnem Mysterium” on KUSC