Donald Crockett remembers composer Steven Stucky
Donald Crockett, chair of the USC Thornton Composition department, was quoted in the Boston Globe about his close friendship with composer Steven Stucky, who died in February. Crockett came to know the Pulitzer Prize-winner in the 1980’s when Stucky began serving as composer in residence for the Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil). “His sense of… Continue reading Donald Crockett remembers composer Steven Stucky
Alumnus Saad Haddad receives CAPMT commission
Composer and alumnus Saad Haddad (BM ’14, composition) has received the Distinguished Composer of the Year Award from the California Association of Professional Music Teachers (CAPMT) and has been has commissioned by the organization to compose a new work for flute, viola and harp. The work will be premiered at the CAPMT State Conference in… Continue reading Alumnus Saad Haddad receives CAPMT commission
Cristian Grases premieres new choral work at Carnegie Hall
Cristian Grases, a member of the USC Thornton Choral and Sacred Music faculty, recently premiered his new composition entitled Nocturnos y Adivinanzas (Nocturnes and Riddles) with Distinguished Concerts International New York. The June 12th concert, held at Carnegie Hall, included a chorus of 200 young singers from across the U.S. The six-movement Nocturnos y Adivinanzas… Continue reading Cristian Grases premieres new choral work at Carnegie Hall
American Composers Orchestra to perform work by Sarah Gibson
Sarah Gibson (MM ’10, DMA ’15), a member of the USC Thornton Composition faculty, is one of seven composers whose works will be performed by the American Composers Orchestra (ACO), an ensemble dedicated to reading and performing new contemporary classical music. The ACO’s 25th annual Underwood New Music Readings concert will take place on June… Continue reading American Composers Orchestra to perform work by Sarah Gibson
Houston Symphony premieres concerto by late composer, alumnus James Horner
The work of the late film composer and USC Thornton alumnus James Horner (BM ’74, composition) was honored by the Houston Symphony earlier this month. The Symphony, under conductor Michael Francis, presented the premiere of Horner’s last completed concert work, which was performed by the orchestra and four French horn soloists, two of whom were… Continue reading Houston Symphony premieres concerto by late composer, alumnus James Horner
A Springtime Celebration of Composer Morten Lauridsen
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Film composer, alum, Bear McCreary featured on NPR
USC Thornton alumnus Bear McCreary (BM ’02) was interviewed recently on NPR’s All Things Considered about his success as a film and television composer. His first major studio film score came this year for J.J. Abrams’ thriller 10 Cloverfield Lane, which opened March 11. McCreary started out scoring for the sci-fi series Battlestar Galactica and… Continue reading Film composer, alum, Bear McCreary featured on NPR
Composition students, faculty win American Academy of Arts & Letters Awards
Two doctoral candidates and a faculty member of the USC Thornton Composition program have received awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. DMA candidate Brett Banducci received the $10,000 Andrew Imbrie Award for “a composer of demonstrated artistic merit.” DMA candidate Thomas Kotcheff (MM ’12) and faculty member Jeffrey Parola were each awarded… Continue reading Composition students, faculty win American Academy of Arts & Letters Awards
Andrew Norman premieres work with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil
Andrew Norman, a member of the USC Thornton Composition faculty, premiered a work with the Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil), under conductor Gustavo Dudamel, last week. Norman’s Play: Level 1 is adapted from his 2013 orchestral cycle, Play, which echoes the exuberantly frenetic, startlingly disjointed experience of video game-play, and which was recorded on CD… Continue reading Andrew Norman premieres work with Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Phil
Julia Adolphe’s N.Y. Philharmonic concerto to premiere next season
A new viola concerto by Julia Adolphe, a doctoral candidate in the USC Thornton Composition program, will be premiere as part of the New York Philharmonic’s 175th anniversary season in November of 2016. The work, which was commissioned by the Philharmonic in 2015, will be performed Nov. 17 and Nov. 19 by Cynthia Phelps, USC… Continue reading Julia Adolphe’s N.Y. Philharmonic concerto to premiere next season