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
Rohan Chander releases debut album
USC Thornton doctoral student in composition Rohan Chander released his debut album, FINAL SKIN, on May 13 from Cantaloupe Records. Chander performed the new project at the kick-off of Wild Up’s newest LA Sunday series on May 15. Earlier this year, he was nominated for a 2022 Gaudeamus Award, one of the most prestigious recognitions… Continue reading Rohan Chander releases debut album
Music of Remembrance premieres new work by Nicolas Lell Benavides
On May 15, Music of Remembrance presents the world premiere of Tres Minutos, a one-act opera by Thornton composition doctoral student Nicolas Lell Benavides and librettist Marella Martin Koch, with dramaturg Hector Vega. The opera follows the story of a sister and a brother who wrestle with questions of identity, duty and belonging during their… Continue reading Music of Remembrance premieres new work by Nicolas Lell Benavides
Kate Crellin publishes debut choral compositions
Kate Crellin (’19), an alumna of the USC Thornton Department of Choral & Sacred Music, recently published her debut choral compositions with Heritage Music Press. The debut pieces include “Day of Fire and Sun,” “Give Me Your Stars to Hold” and “Home-Thoughts, From Abroad.” Crellin currently serves as the choir director for the GRAMMY Award-winning… Continue reading Kate Crellin publishes debut choral compositions