Sophomore Madeliene Mayi releases new EP – with help from Music Industry students
Sophomore Popular Music student Madeleine Meyer — known professionally as Madeleine Mayi — is riding on a wave of success. Her first single, “You Want More,” earned 16,000 plays in less than three weeks, to the praise of Indie Shuffle and Ear to the Ground. On Friday, May 5th, Mayi released “Strawberry Hair,” the last… Continue reading Sophomore Madeliene Mayi releases new EP – with help from Music Industry students
Thornton students to participate in serendipitous Sofar Sounds concert
Four USC Thornton Popular Music students will perform on the evening of Sunday, April 30th as part of the Sofar Sounds performance series on the USC campus. The series aims to create buzz by presenting unannounced musical artists in secretive locations, which are revealed to audiences just before each event. Music Industry faculty member Loren… Continue reading Thornton students to participate in serendipitous Sofar Sounds concert
Peter Erskine releases new trio album
Peter Erskine, jazz drummer and director of Drumset Studies at USC Thornton, recently released a new trio album, In Praise of Shadows. The trio features Erskine, bassist Damian Erskine, and pianist Vardan Ovsepian, who wrote several of the tracks. Electronic valve instrumentalist Judd Miller and cellist Artyom Manukyan are guest artists on the album. All… Continue reading Peter Erskine releases new trio album
Alumnus Gabriel DiMarco excels as composer and musician
USC Thornton Screen Scoring alumnus Gabriel DiMarco (GCRT ’14, scoring for motion pictures and television) won Best Score for the feature film, Children of the Mountain, at the 2016 Ghana Movie Awards in Accra, Ghana. Described as “moving” by Daniel Glenn of Film Forward, DiMarco’s score reinforces the emotional journey of an unmarried mother in… Continue reading Alumnus Gabriel DiMarco excels as composer and musician
Popular Music chair Patrice Rushen speaks at Amherst College
USC Thornton Popular Music chair Patrice Rushen was recently invited to Amherst College in Massachusetts to speak about the importance of popular music in higher education. As part of the “New Perspectives in American Music” lecture series, Rushen detailed how Thornton’s Popular Music program has filled an under-served niche in musical curriculum. The discussion was… Continue reading Popular Music chair Patrice Rushen speaks at Amherst College
Pop alumna Maddie Ross profiled in “Billboard”
USC Thornton Popular Music alumna Maddie Ross (’14) is the focus of a feature profile in Billboard, which explores her innovative and entrepreneurial approach to music-making. Placing her recent single, “You’re Still My Sugar,” among “the best rock songs released this year,” the article survey’s Ross’s creative process, her podcast, coming out as queer, and… Continue reading Pop alumna Maddie Ross profiled in “Billboard”
Pacific Symphony performance with Peter Boyer to be broadcast on PBS
Ellis Island: The Dream of America, a multimedia orchestral work by composer and USC Thornton alumnus Peter Boyer (GCRT ’96, SMPTV) was the centerpiece of the Pacific Symphony’s recent American Composers Festival from April 6-8. Conducted by music director and USC Thornton faculty member Carl St.Clair, the GRAMMY-nominated piece incorporates narration and projected imagery to… Continue reading Pacific Symphony performance with Peter Boyer to be broadcast on PBS
Popular Music alumni, MUNA featured in heartwarming Vice video
The band MUNA, which was formed by Thornton Popular Music alumni Katie Gavin (BA ’15) and Josette Maskin (’16), along with Naomi McPherson, recently sat down to record a video for Vice’s Noisey series “Call Your Dad” — but things didn’t go exactly as planned. When band member Josette rang up her South African father… Continue reading Popular Music alumni, MUNA featured in heartwarming Vice video
Thornton Combo takes top prize at Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival
The USC Thornton Jazz Composers Collective recently took first place at the Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival. Under the direction of faculty member Vince Mendoza, the Composers Collective performed all original music and have been invited back for a special engagement at the Monterey Jazz Festival this coming September. Thornton saxophonist and DMA candidate Ramsey… Continue reading Thornton Combo takes top prize at Monterey Next Generation Jazz Festival
Charles Gutierrez
Charles Gutierrez comes from Southern California, growing up within the club performance music scenes, starting at the young age of fourteen, playing in the local L.A. and Orange County venues. Primarily a guitarist, but playing a variety of instruments, Gutierrez studied at Musicians Institute in the early 80’s with private guitar instruction from a variety… Continue reading Charles Gutierrez