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
Jensen McRae releases debut album “Are You Happy Now?”
USC Thornton Popular Music program alumna and singer-songwriter Jensen McRae (’19) released her debut album, Are You Happy Now?, on March 22 with Human Re Sources Records. The project features her widely acclaimed hit “Immune” and four other tracks from her EP Who Hurt You? McRae is currently on tour with Amos Lee, and she… Continue reading Jensen McRae releases debut album “Are You Happy Now?”
Giovanni Santos (MM ’07) has new work premiered by Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble
This month, the Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble will premiere Thornton alum Giovanni Santos’ (MM ‘07) new saxophone concerto, “I Dream Awake,” with soloist and fellow alumnus Andrew Harrison. Santos currently serves as the director of wind and percussion studies at La Sierra University, where he directs the University Wind Ensemble, Chamber Winds and Big… Continue reading Giovanni Santos (MM ’07) has new work premiered by Pacific Symphony Youth Wind Ensemble
Juan Pablo Contreras premieres “MeChicano” with the Las Vegas Philharmonic
Alumnus Juan Pablo Contreras (DMA ’21) premieres MeChicano, a piece honoring Mexican-American communities, with the Las Vegas Philharmonic on May 7. Contreras is one of the seven composers selected by New Music USA’s Amplifying Voices, a program supporting composers of underrepresented backgrounds. His work was co-commisisioned by the Las Vegas Philharmonic, the California Symphony, the… Continue reading Juan Pablo Contreras premieres “MeChicano” with the Las Vegas Philharmonic
Lindsay Wolfington wins at 2022 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards
USC Thornton Music Industry program faculty member Lindsay Wolfington and fellow music supervisor Laura Webb won the award for Best Music Supervision – Television Movie at the 2022 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards for their work on To All the Boys: Always and Forever. This is the second year in a row that the duo… Continue reading Lindsay Wolfington wins at 2022 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards
Austin Wintory celebrates ten years of video game Journey
Composer and USC Thornton Composition program alum Austin Wintory (’07) was interviewed by Screen Rant and NME about the ten-year anniversary of the popular video game Journey. Wintory composed the score for the game, which came out in 2012. The Journey score debuted higher on the Billboard charts than any original score in gaming history,… Continue reading Austin Wintory celebrates ten years of video game Journey
USC Thornton faculty Beatriz Ilari and Veronika Krausas receive Advancing Scholarship awards
USC Thornton faculty members Veronika Krausas and Beatriz Illari were awarded by Advancing Scholarship in the Humanities and Social Sciences (ASHSS). The ASHSS research and creative project grants program, an initiative of the USC Office of the Provost, promotes the development of innovative and influential scholarly and creative output in the arts, humanities and humanistic… Continue reading USC Thornton faculty Beatriz Ilari and Veronika Krausas receive Advancing Scholarship awards