Happy Birthday, Hurricane Mama! USC Thornton faculty and alumni celebrate the LA Phil’s famed organ this weekend
Beginning on Thursday and running through the weekend, the Los Angeles Philharmonic celebrates the anniversary of the Walt Disney Concert Hall’s famous organ, Hurricane Mama, with a series of concerts. As Mark Swed wrote in the Los Angeles Times, “But no other organ looks like French fries, a thrilling trademark of the Frank Gehry hall’s… Continue reading Happy Birthday, Hurricane Mama! USC Thornton faculty and alumni celebrate the LA Phil’s famed organ this weekend
Calder Quartet to perform with Bear McCreary (BM ’02), Melanie Henley Heyn (BM, ’04)
The Broad Stage’s ensemble-in-residence, the Calder Quartet – originally formed at USC Thornton by alumni Benjamin Jacobson (BM ’01, MM ’07), Andrew Bulbrook (BM, ’02), Jonathan Moerschel (BM ’01, MM ’03), and Eric Byers (BM, ’03) – will be joined by fellow alumni Emmy Award-winning composer Bear McCreary (BM ’02) and soprano Melanie Henley Heyn (BM, ’04) for two… Continue reading Calder Quartet to perform with Bear McCreary (BM ’02), Melanie Henley Heyn (BM, ’04)
Ted Hearne featured in The Wall Street Journal
Ted Hearne, assistant professor of composition at USC Thornton, was featured in an article by The Wall Street Journal for his work, The Source. The composition is based on text by the activist group WikiLeaks and former United States Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, famous for releasing the largest set of classified documents ever leaked… Continue reading Ted Hearne featured in The Wall Street Journal
Strings Department and Composition Department alumni awarded commission by Chamber Music America
The Argus Quartet — which consists of current and former USC Thornton students Clara Kim (DMA, ’15), Jason Issokson (MM, ’10), and Diana Wade (GCRT, ’13) — was awarded a commission by Chamber Music America, a national network for ensemble musicians. Awarded as a part of the organization’s Classical Commissioning program, the grant provides support for American classical… Continue reading Strings Department and Composition Department alumni awarded commission by Chamber Music America
Ross Garren (BM, ’08) to attend Sundance Institute Music and Sound Design Lab
Ross Garren (BM, ’08) was recently chosen to attend the Sundance Institute Music and Sound Design Lab at Skywalker Sound. Garren, who was named Outstanding Graduate in Composition during his time at USC Thornton, is part of a select group of composers chosen to attend. The program will take place at the Skywalker Ranch in Northern… Continue reading Ross Garren (BM, ’08) to attend Sundance Institute Music and Sound Design Lab
Dale Trumbore (MM, ’11) wins Busan Choral Composition Competition
Dale Trumbore (MM, ’11), a composition alumna who studied under the tutelage of Donald Crockett and Morten Lauridsen, recently won the Busan Choral Composition Competition. As a part of the win, Trumbore will travel Busan, South Korea in October. There, her piece “Chant for Winter” will be performed by the Korean Ansan City Choir. The former USC Sadye… Continue reading Dale Trumbore (MM, ’11) wins Busan Choral Composition Competition
Composition alumnus scores soundtrack for Universal Pictures’ “A Walk Among The Tombstones”
Carlos Rivera (MM ’04, DMA ’10) has recently scored the soundtrack for Universal Pictures’ upcoming release, A Walk Among The Tombstones, starring Liam Neeson. Rivera recently signed with agent Amos Newman at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment (WME), whose clients include Hans Zimmer, Trent Reznor and Ennio Morricone. Scoring his first motion picture allowed Rivera the… Continue reading Composition alumnus scores soundtrack for Universal Pictures’ “A Walk Among The Tombstones”
Frank Ticheli Festival to be held in Westminster, UK
Composition faculty Frank Ticheli will participate in this week’s Frank Ticheli Festival, taking place Thursday, June 26 in Westminster, England. Ticheli will conduct a combined band and choir in the festival finale, which will feature some of his favorite pieces for band and for choir. The individual choirs, Los Gatos High School and London Sings, will sing… Continue reading Frank Ticheli Festival to be held in Westminster, UK
Composition students honored with BMI Student Composer Awards
USC Thornton Composition students Saad Nadim Haddad and Daniel Temkin are two of eight young classical composers named winners of the 62nd Annual BMI Student Composer Awards. Haddad, an undergraduate student, won for Mai, a work for string quartet and electronics; Temkin was honored for From Distant Dreams, a work for orchestra. Winners are selected for their superior musical compositional ability,… Continue reading Composition students honored with BMI Student Composer Awards
Work by DMA student premiered by New York Philharmonic
DMA student Julia Adolphe’s “Dark Sand, Sifting Light” was performed at the New York Philharmonic as a part of the NY Phil Biennial. The New York Times called the piece “colorful, mercurial, [and] deftly orchestrated.” USC Distinguished Professor, Jascha Heifetz Chair in Violin, Midori Goto, also performed as a soloist during the concert.