Ted Hearne’s oratorio, “The Source,“ released as album
Composer Ted Hearne, a faculty member of the USC Thornton Composition department, has released a new album of his oratorio, “The Source.” Built around short samples of spoken language, snippets of popular music, and disjointed instrumental riffs, the 2014 work examines the experience of US Army Private Chelsea Manning, who infamously leaked classified military documents… Continue reading Ted Hearne’s oratorio, “The Source,“ released as album
Frank Ticheli’s “Radiant Voices” to be performed by Long Beach Symphony
An orchestral work by USC Thornton Composition professor Frank Ticheli will be performed by the Long Beach Symphony Orchestra on Saturday, November 14, 2015 at 8:00pm. Ticheli’s bold and percussive “Radiant Voices,” composed in the after-light of the 1992 Los Angeles riots, will feature violin soloist Heather Clark, under the baton of conductor Edward Cumming.… Continue reading Frank Ticheli’s “Radiant Voices” to be performed by Long Beach Symphony
Composer Mark Weiser’s “High Velocity” wins two prizes
Mark Weiser, of the USC Thornton Composition faculty, has won notoriety for his 2012 work, High Velocity. The solo piano piece won first prize at The Ear, a recent concert event in New York City, and was awarded the 2015 International Heckscher Composition Prize by Ithaca College. High Velocity has been recorded by pianist Hannah… Continue reading Composer Mark Weiser’s “High Velocity” wins two prizes
Alumnus Cody Westheimer scores new IMAX film
USC Thornton alumnus Cody Westheimer (BM ’01, composition) scored the music for the new IMAX film, “Journey to Space 3D,” which premiered at the California Science Center in Los Angeles last week. For the premiere event, Westheimer conducted student members of the USC Thornton Symphony in sections of the film score, in the shadow of… Continue reading Alumnus Cody Westheimer scores new IMAX film
Thornton new music ensembles sparkle in LATimes review
Two new music ensembles featuring USC Thornton students and faculty were reviewed in the Los Angeles Times for a recent performance as part of Tuesdays@MonkSpace. The HOCKET piano due includes DMA Composition student Thomas Kotcheff (MM ’12) and Composition faculty member Sarah Gibson (MM ’10, DMA ’15). The Sakura ensemble centers around five cellists: Jonathan… Continue reading Thornton new music ensembles sparkle in LATimes review
Composer alum Karim Elmahmoudi undertakes Minnesota residency
Karim Elmahmoudi (’07), an alumnus of the USC Thornton Composition program, has completed a guest composer residency with the Wayzata Symphony Orchestra in Wayzata, Minnesota. Following a weeklong visit in September, during which Elmahmoudi met with Wayzata students and audiences to discuss his creative process, the Wayzata Symphony presented his work, Orbit: A Symphonic Fantasy,… Continue reading Composer alum Karim Elmahmoudi undertakes Minnesota residency
Composition alumnus Roger Zare awarded Copland residency
USC Thornton Composition alumnus Roger Zare (BM ’07) was selected for a 2015-16 Copland House Residency Award. The residency, which takes place at composer Aaron Copland’s historical home and studio in Westchester County, New York, invites emerging and mid-career composers to live and work at the residence for three to eight weeks. Zare recently won… Continue reading Composition alumnus Roger Zare awarded Copland residency
Donald Crockett’s album “Blue Earth” reviewed in Gramophone
“Blue Earth,” a recent album of original works by Donald Crockett, chair of the USC Thornton Composition program, was reviewed in the September 2015 issue of Gramophone. Reviewer Donald Rosenberg noted that the album’s three works, which were recorded by the Boston Modern Orchestra Project under conductor Gil Rose, “show the American composer fully engaged… Continue reading Donald Crockett’s album “Blue Earth” reviewed in Gramophone
Reflecting on Ken Butler’s extraordinary instruments
The USC News website has posted a brief article about artist/musician/inventor Ken Butler’s Visions & Voices presentation, “Hybrid Visions, Anxious Objects,” which was was organized by USC Thornton Composition faculty member Veronika Krausas and USC Roski ceramicist Karen Koblitz. The news story about the September 21 event noted that Butler “plucks, bows, strums and taps… Continue reading Reflecting on Ken Butler’s extraordinary instruments
Greg Reitan alumni jazz trio reviewed in ArtsJournal
Jazz pianist and USC Thornton alumnus Greg Reitan (’96, composition) was reviewed on the ArtsJournal blog for his new album, Post No Bills, which features fellow alumni Jack Daro (BA ’93, MM ’99) on bass and Dean Koba (MM ’93) on drums. The album has been well-received by critics. Reitan studied composition at USC Thornton… Continue reading Greg Reitan alumni jazz trio reviewed in ArtsJournal