Ted Hearne featured on WFMT
USC Thornton Composition faculty member and Chicago native Ted Hearne was interviewed on Chicago’s WFMT. He discussed how his incorporation of politics and social justice issues into his music stem from his many years of singing with the Chicago Children’s Choir. Hearne describes the choir as an “activist organization,” made up of diverse students from… Continue reading Ted Hearne featured on WFMT
José Gonzalez Granero premieres composition
USC Thornton alumnus José Gonzalez Granero (GRCT ’09) premiered his composition “Gion Overture” with the Emporia Symphony Orchestra last week. Granero, who is the Principal Clarinetist for the San Francisco Opera Orchestra, wrote the piece based on the historical neighborhood of Gion in Kyoto, Japan.
Michael Abels lauded for score of Jordan Peele’s ‘Us’
Composer and USC Thornton alumnus Michael Abels ’84 was recently profiled on NPR for his score of Jordan Peele’s new horror movie, Us. NPR praises Abel for balancing terror with empathy, and Peele claims it is Abels’ heart that makes him a great horror scorer. Abels and Peele first collaborated on the Oscar-winning 2017 film Get… Continue reading Michael Abels lauded for score of Jordan Peele’s ‘Us’
Sarah Gibson wins Left Coast Composition Contest
USC Thornton Composition faculty member Sarah Gibson has just been announced as the winner of the 2019 Left Coast Competition Contest for her composition I prefer living in color. As part of the grand prize, the Left Coast Chamber Ensemble will perform the piece during their 2019-20 season. Gibson wrote I prefer living in color… Continue reading Sarah Gibson wins Left Coast Composition Contest
Saad Haddad chosen as New Young Concert Artist Composer-in-Residence
Last month, Young Concert Artists (YCA) announced USC Thornton Composition alumnus Saad Haddad ’14 as the 2019-2021 Young Concert Artist Composer-in-Residence. As the 12th composer to receive this honor, Haddad will receive management services, publicity and two Young Concert Artist commissions that will premiere at New York’s Merkin Concert Hall and the Kennedy Center in… Continue reading Saad Haddad chosen as New Young Concert Artist Composer-in-Residence
Composers, Librettists and Performers collaborate for New Opera Works performance
This Friday at noon Newman Recital Hall, New Opera Works (NOW), a new student organization at USC Thornton, will present the first performance of three opera shorts. Running 10 minutes, each short is composed by Thornton Composition majors and performed by Thornton Vocal Arts students and alumni. NOW, founded by current DMA Vocal Arts student… Continue reading Composers, Librettists and Performers collaborate for New Opera Works performance
USC Thornton faculty and alumnus collaborate for world premiere with LACO
On March 23 and 24, Jeffrey Kahane, Professor of Keyboard Studies at USC Thornton, will return to Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra to conduct the world premiere of GRAMMY Award-winning composer and Thornton alumnus James Newton Howard’s cello concerto, When we were One. The performance, which features USC Thornton Strings faculty member Andrew Shulman on cello… Continue reading USC Thornton faculty and alumnus collaborate for world premiere with LACO
Two Thornton Alumni recognized for Video Game Scoring
Two USC Thornton alumni ranked in the top five of Film Music Media‘s list of the best video game scores of 2018. Bear McCreary ’02 earned the second spot for his score for God of War while Austin Wintory ’07 came in fourth for The Banner Saga 3.
LACO premieres new commission by Juan Pablo Contreras
This week, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) will premiere composer and USC Thornton DMA student Juan Pablo Contreras’ new piano quintet, Musas Mexicanas. The two-night debut will take place Thursday, Feb. 13 at Santa Monica’s Moss Theater and Friday, Feb. 15 at The Huntington in San Marino. Commissioned as part of LACO’s In Focus series… Continue reading LACO premieres new commission by Juan Pablo Contreras
Jules Pegram wins ASCAP/CBDNA Fennell Prize
Earlier this year, Jules Pegram ‘13 received the ninth bi-annual American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and College Band Directors National Association (CBDNA) Frederick Fennell Prize award for his piece “Concerto for Alto Saxophone & Wind Ensemble.” The competition, named for Frederick Fennell, ASCAP member and past President of CBDNA, was established to… Continue reading Jules Pegram wins ASCAP/CBDNA Fennell Prize