Composer Morten Lauridsen to receive ASCAP Foundation’s Life in Music Award
Morten Lauridsen, Distinguished Professor of Composition at USC Thornton, will receive the ASCAP Foundation‘s Life in Music Award “for his distinguished contribution to the American choral tradition.” The foundation, which is the philanthropic arm of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, will present the award to Lauridsen at a ceremony at New York… Continue reading Composer Morten Lauridsen to receive ASCAP Foundation’s Life in Music Award
Georgi Dimitrov receives Maestro Foundation Viola Award
Georgi Dimitrov (MM ’14), a DMA candidate in the USC Thornton Composition program, recently received the Viola Award from the Maestro Foundation of Los Angeles, which supports the development of gifted young musicians. Dimitrov, who minors in viola performance at Thornton, was loaned a 2003 “Zanetto” viola and bow created by highly-regarded violin maker Mario… Continue reading Georgi Dimitrov receives Maestro Foundation Viola Award
Andrew Norman earns “Composer of the Year” distinction from Musical America
Andrew Norman (’02, MM ’04), a member of the USC Thornton Composition faculty, has been named Composer of the Year for 2017 by the Musical America organization, which characterized Norman’s compositional style as “a voice singularly his own.” Norman, who received a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship last spring and was nominated for a 2016 GRAMMY Award,… Continue reading Andrew Norman earns “Composer of the Year” distinction from Musical America
Ted Hearne’s oratorio, “The Source,” receives West Coast premiere
The Source, an oratorio by USC Thornton Composition faculty member Ted Hearne, will receive its west coast premiere this month at REDCAT in a production by the Los Angeles Opera. The strikingly contemporary work incorporates spoken language, snippets of popular music, and disjointed instrumental riffs, to tell the story of Chelsea Manning, formerly Bradley Manning,… Continue reading Ted Hearne’s oratorio, “The Source,” receives West Coast premiere
Composition student Michael Lee debuts piece for string quartet on new album
“Farewell…,” a work by USC Thornton Composition doctoral candidate Michael Lee, is included on the compilation album Between the Echoes: Contemporary Chamber Works, recently released by Navona Records. Lee’s composition for string quartet, which incorporates shifting rhythms, timbres, and moods, was performed by violinists Vit Muzik and Igor Kopyt, violist Dominika Mužíková, and cellist Petr… Continue reading Composition student Michael Lee debuts piece for string quartet on new album
Alumna Julia Newmann’s “Bones Orchestral Suite” performed live
A work by Composition alumna Julia Newmann (BM ’03) was recently performed by a 55-piece orchestra as part of “The Women Who Score: Soundtracks Live.” A collaboration between Grand Performances and The Alliance for Women Film Composers, the event was a celebration of 21 film, television, and videogame scores by female composers. Newmann, who has… Continue reading Alumna Julia Newmann’s “Bones Orchestral Suite” performed live
Bear McCreary chats with AXS about his career
USC Thornton Composition alumnus Bear McCreary (BM ’02) was interviewed by AXS about his recent projects and his plans for the future. The well-regarded film composer, who received USC Thornton’s 2016 Outstanding Alumnus Award, is currently scoring the final season of “Black Sails” and is looking forward to doing more concert performances in the next… Continue reading Bear McCreary chats with AXS about his career
Strong Thornton presence among performers and composers at Carlsbad Music Festival
USC Thornton alumni will be widely represented at the annual Carlsbad Music Festival in the San Diego area this weekend (August 26-28). Among the festival’s main stage artists is the HOCKET piano duo, which includes current Composition DMA candidate Thomas Kotcheff (MM ’12, Composition) and Composition faculty member Sarah Gibson (MM ’10, DMA ’15, Composition).… Continue reading Strong Thornton presence among performers and composers at Carlsbad Music Festival
Alumnus George Shaw composes ballet
The I.C. Movement Project contemporary ballet company has commissioned USC Thornton Composition alumnus George Shaw to compose a ballet. The work, “Through the Glass Ceiling,” explores issues of gender inequality and will receive its premiere in the Washington D.C area on August 6th. Shaw recently scored the theme and music for the web video series… Continue reading Alumnus George Shaw composes ballet
Film composer James Newton Howard to perform his soundtracks live at Royal Albert Hall
The works of GRAMMY Award-winning film composer and USC Thornton alumnus James Newton Howard will be celebrated in a concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall this November. Howard, who was recently selected to score the newest film in the Harry Potter franchise, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, has previously scored popular films including… Continue reading Film composer James Newton Howard to perform his soundtracks live at Royal Albert Hall