LACO premieres new commission by Juan Pablo Contreras
The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) will present the world premiere of a work by Latin GRAMMY-nominated composer and USC Thornton alumnus Juan Pablo Contreras (DMA ‘21). “Lucha Libre!” will be performed on December 11 at 8 p.m. at Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena. “Lucha Libre!” is a LACO sound Investment commission that pays tribute to… Continue reading LACO premieres new commission by Juan Pablo Contreras
Oliviana Marie awarded in 2022 Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards
USC Thornton composition program student Oliviana Marie was both an award-winner and nominee at the Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards. The announcement was made on Oct 18. Only 5 nominees are selected per division out of the top 25 submissions. Hamlisch was nominated in the emerging jazz composition category, and she won in the emerging… Continue reading Oliviana Marie awarded in 2022 Marvin Hamlisch International Music Awards
Juan Pablo Contreras receives Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Music
USC Thornton composition program faculty member Juan Pablo Contreras (DMA ‘21) received the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Music for his work as a composer of Mexican orchestral music, and his leadership as founder and conductor of the Orquesta Latino Mexicana. The Vilcek Foundation Prizes recognize and celebrate immigrant contributions to the arts, culture… Continue reading Juan Pablo Contreras receives Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Music
Austin Wintory co-composed score for Netflix series “Thai Cave Rescue”
USC Thornton Composition program alum Austin Wintory (BM ‘07) has co-composed the recently released Netflix series “Thai Cave Rescue” with orchestrator and composer Susie Seiter. The Netflix limited series, released on Sept. 22., tells a heart-pounding story of the rescue of a boys soccer team from the Tham Luang cave in northern Thailand. In the… Continue reading Austin Wintory co-composed score for Netflix series “Thai Cave Rescue”
Patrick O’Malley premieres concerto with Ft. Wayne Philharmonic
USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Patrick O’Malley (MM ’15, DMA ’19) will premiere a concerto piece at the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Embassy Theater in Ft. Wayne, IN at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 29. O’Malley’s “Viola Concerto” will be conducted by Andrew Constantine and performed by violist Brett Deubner. The Ft. Wayne Philharmonic commissioned the piece… Continue reading Patrick O’Malley premieres concerto with Ft. Wayne Philharmonic
Michael Lee’s “Ghost Break Dance” to be performed at SF Music Day
USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Michael Lee’s (DMA ‘17) “Ghost Break Dance,” a work for violin and cello that was premiered in 2019 by Ensemble Ari, will be performed by the group again at the 15th annual San Francisco Music Day on October 9 at the SF War Memorial Hall. SF Music Day is the… Continue reading Michael Lee’s “Ghost Break Dance” to be performed at SF Music Day
Rohan Chander wins the Gaudeamus Award 2022
Composer and USC Thornton Composition program alum Rohan Chander (MM ‘22) won the Gaudeamus Award, a prestigious, international award for young composers. The announcement was made at the Gaudeamus Festival in Utrecht, The Netherlands on Sept. 11. A composer and performer who performs as BAKUDI SCREAM, Chander was one of the five finalists selected from over 200… Continue reading Rohan Chander wins the Gaudeamus Award 2022
Billy Childs premieres violin concerto at Grant Park Music Festival
GRAMMY Award-winning artist and Thornton alumnus Billy Childs (’79) premieres his Violin Concerto No. 2 at the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago on July 15-16. The piece will be performed by the festival’s Project Inclusions String Quartet and features acclaimed violinist Rachel Barton Pine as a soloist. Grant Park Music Festival co-commissioned the composition,… Continue reading Billy Childs premieres violin concerto at Grant Park Music Festival
Roger Neill premieres new musical comedy with Westwind Orchard
On June 4, Westwind Orchard will host the premiere of the musical comedy Da Ponte by Roger Neill (’86), an alumnus of USC Thornton’s Composition program, and Niel Cohen. The comedy explores the life of famous librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte, his partnership with Mozart and how he came to run a grocery store in New… Continue reading Roger Neill premieres new musical comedy with Westwind Orchard
Donald Crockett conducts piano quartet of Thornton alumni and faculty for MicroFest at The Wende Museum
USC Thornton Composition Program Chair Donald Crockett will conduct USC Thornton alumni Vicki Ray (DMA ’88), Steven Vanhauwaert (MM ’06, GCRT ’08) and Sarah Gibson (MM ’10, DMA ’15) and Thornton faculty member Aron Kallay in Ivan Wyschnegradsky’s “Music for Four Quarter-Tone Pianos” at MicroFest on June 3 at the Wende Museum. MicroFest is the… Continue reading Donald Crockett conducts piano quartet of Thornton alumni and faculty for MicroFest at The Wende Museum