San Francisco to honor Michael Tilson Thomas with street name
San Francisco mayor London N. Breed has introduced legislation that would rename the Civic Center block near Davies Symphony Hall after celebrated conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, a Thornton alumnus and Judge Widney Professor at USC. The block between Franklin Street and Van Ness Avenue will be named “MTT Way” in honor of Thomas’s contributions to… Continue reading San Francisco to honor Michael Tilson Thomas with street name
Oliviana Marie wins in 2023 American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers Competition
USC Thornton Composition program student Oliviana Marie won two awards in the 2023 American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers (ASMAC) Student Competition. She earned second place in the Ray and Jon Charles Vocal Arranging category for “Wayfarin Stranger Hard Times” and third place in the Bill Conti Big Band Arranging category for “There Ain’t… Continue reading Oliviana Marie wins in 2023 American Society of Music Arrangers and Composers Competition
Jeffrey Kahane conducts LACO in world premiere of Nina Young’s “Violin Concerto: Traces”
Jeffrey Kahane, a USC Thornton Keyboard Studies faculty member and conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, will conduct the world premiere of “Violin Concerto: Traces,” composed by Thornton Composition faculty member Nina Young. The piece will be performed by violinist Jennifer Koh on Nov. 11 at the Alex Theatre and Nov. 12 at… Continue reading Jeffrey Kahane conducts LACO in world premiere of Nina Young’s “Violin Concerto: Traces”
Gregg Field featured in CBS Sunday Morning segment on Henry Mancini
USC Thornton Board of Councilors Chair Gregg Field was featured in a new CBS Sunday Morning segment on the late composer Henry Mancini. Field discussed the fame of Mancini’s film and television music, such as the ubiquitous “Pink Panther Theme” and “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The segment included a recording session of his… Continue reading Gregg Field featured in CBS Sunday Morning segment on Henry Mancini
Camae Ayewa releases new album with Irreversible Entanglements
USC Thornton Composition program faculty member Camae Ayewa, also known as Moor Mother, released the album Protect Your Light with jazz group Irreversible Entanglements on September 8 via Impulse! Records. The album draws inspiration from a multitude of jazz improvisational styles as well as the shared personal histories within the band. “This record could be… Continue reading Camae Ayewa releases new album with Irreversible Entanglements
Juan Pablo Contreras’ “Lucha Libre!” receives Latin Grammy nomination
Juan Pablo Contreras (DMA ’21), a USC Thornton Composition program faculty member and alumnus, received a Latin Grammy nomination in the Best Classical Contemporary Composition category for Lucha Libre! The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra commissioned Contreras to write Lucha Libre! during their 2019-2020 season, when he served as Sound Investment composer-in-residence. Inspired by famous Mexican… Continue reading Juan Pablo Contreras’ “Lucha Libre!” receives Latin Grammy nomination
Composer and cellist Quenton Blache to make Carnegie Hall debut
USC Thornton Composition and Cello Performance alum Quenton Blache (‘23) will make his Carnegie Hall debut with the chamber orchestra Sphinx Virtuosi. The concert takes place on on October 20 at 7 p.m. in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage. The program will open with Blache’s New York premiere of Habari Gani, named after the Swahili… Continue reading Composer and cellist Quenton Blache to make Carnegie Hall debut
Dan Caputo invited as Composer-in-Residence for Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
USC Thornton Composition program alumnus and faculty member Dan Caputo (DMA ’19, BM ’13) was a Composer-in-Residence for the 2023 Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, held July 30–August 13. His work Liminal, which premiered with the USC Thornton Symphony in 2018, was performed by the Cabrillo Festival Orchestra on August 13 under conductor and musical… Continue reading Dan Caputo invited as Composer-in-Residence for Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
Daniel Newman-Lessler conducts USC Thornton students in “Unforgettable Sunrise” premiere
On September 30, USC Thornton alumnus Daniel Newman-Lessler (MM ’17, BM ’14) will conduct 54 current students in the premiere of Unforgettable Sunrise, a 70 minute symphony by Jacob Rock and Rob Laufer. Rock, a non-verbal teenager with autism, communicated his idea for the symphony through an app on the iPad. To help realize his… Continue reading Daniel Newman-Lessler conducts USC Thornton students in “Unforgettable Sunrise” premiere
Anuj Bhutani and Nina C. Young named 2023 Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grantees
USC Thornton Composition master’s student Anuj Bhutani and Composition faculty member Nina C. Young were named 2023 Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grantees. Bhutani, a composer and performer studying under Composition faculty member Ted Hearne, will use his grant to produce a new work with the Khemia Ensemble. Young’s grant will support her creation of… Continue reading Anuj Bhutani and Nina C. Young named 2023 Chamber Music America Classical Commissioning Grantees