Billy Childs composition to be featured at “Treelogy” concert
GRAMMY Award-winning artist and USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Billy Childs (BM ‘79) will premiere a piece honoring endangered California trees in a three-part concert, Treelogy, on Feb. 23, 2023. Treelogy’s music series will tour California to raise awareness of the state’s trees in response to the unprecedented rise in wildfires. Childs is one of… Continue reading Billy Childs composition to be featured at “Treelogy” concert
Alumni garner nominations for 2023 Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards
Three USC Thornton alumni have been nominated for the 4th Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards. Composition alum Michael Abels (BM ‘84) was nominated for Outstanding Score for a Studio Film with Nope. Composition alum Bear McCreary (BM ‘02) was nominated for Outstanding Score for a Television Production with The Lord of the Rings: Rings… Continue reading Alumni garner nominations for 2023 Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards
Cody Westheimer premiered symphony celebrating Chumash heritage with Santa Barbara Symphony
USC Thornton composition program alum Cody Westheimer (BM ‘01) premiered a symphonic piece with the Santa Barbara Symphony at the Granada Theatre on Nov. 19. Westheimer’s “Wisdom of the Water, Earth, Sky” was led by artistic director Nir Kabaretti and performed by Chumash descendants Marianne Parra and Ernestine Ygnacio-DeSoto. Westheimer, a Santa Barbara local and… Continue reading Cody Westheimer premiered symphony celebrating Chumash heritage with Santa Barbara Symphony
Fall 2022 Semester in Review
Looking back on an amazing fall 2022 semester at USC Thornton.
George Shaw composed Dreamworks’ “Abominable and the Invisible City”
USC Thornton composition program alumnus George Shaw (BM ‘04) composed the score for DreamWorks animated series Abominable and the Invisible City, the follow-up from the 2019 feature film. The score of the animated series, which was released on Oct. 5, incorporates Chinese culture with solo violin, clarinet and saxophone instrumentals. “In order to bring Chinese… Continue reading George Shaw composed Dreamworks’ “Abominable and the Invisible City”
LACO premieres new commission by Juan Pablo Contreras
The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) will present the world premiere of a work by Latin GRAMMY-nominated composer and USC Thornton alumnus Juan Pablo Contreras (DMA ‘21). “Lucha Libre!” will be performed on December 11 at 8 p.m. at Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena. “Lucha Libre!” is a LACO sound Investment commission that pays tribute to… Continue reading LACO premieres new commission by Juan Pablo Contreras
Oliviana Marie awarded in 2022 Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards
USC Thornton composition program student Oliviana Marie was both an award-winner and nominee at the Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards. The announcement was made on Oct 18. Only 5 nominees are selected per division out of the top 25 submissions. Hamlisch was nominated in the emerging jazz composition category, and she won in the emerging… Continue reading Oliviana Marie awarded in 2022 Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards
Juan Pablo Contreras receives Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Music
USC Thornton composition program faculty member Juan Pablo Contreras (DMA ‘21) received the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Music for his work as a composer of Mexican orchestral music, and his leadership as founder and conductor of the Orquesta Latino Mexicana. The Vilcek Foundation Prizes recognize and celebrate immigrant contributions to the arts, culture… Continue reading Juan Pablo Contreras receives Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Music
Austin Wintory co-composed score for Netflix series “Thai Cave Rescue”
USC Thornton Composition program alum Austin Wintory (BM ‘07) has co-composed the recently released Netflix series “Thai Cave Rescue” with orchestrator and composer Susie Seiter. The Netflix limited series, released on Sept. 22., tells a heart-pounding story of the rescue of a boys soccer team from the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand. In the… Continue reading Austin Wintory co-composed score for Netflix series “Thai Cave Rescue”
Patrick O’Malley premieres concerto with Ft. Wayne Philharmonic
USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Patrick O’Malley (MM ’15, DMA ’19) will premiere a concerto piece at the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Embassy Theater in Ft. Wayne, IN at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 29. O’Malley’s “Viola Concerto” will be conducted by Andrew Constantine and performed by violist Brett Deubner. The Ft. Wayne Philharmonic commissioned the piece… Continue reading Patrick O’Malley premieres concerto with Ft. Wayne Philharmonic