Posts Tagged ‘Contemporary Music Division’


Photo of JJ Kirkpatrick

JJ Kirkpatrick tours with Phoebe Bridgers

March 29, 2022

USC Thornton Jazz Studies Department alumnus J.J. Kirkpatrick (’14) heads out on tour with Phoebe Bridgers this April for her 2022 Reunion tour. Kirkpatrick toured with Bridgers last year and has previously toured with groups AJR and Brasstracks.


Photo of Andres Peterson playing the clarinet

Anders Peterson wins second prize in clarinet competition

March 17, 2022

USC Thornton clarinet performance major Anders Peterson won second prize in the classical clarinet category of the 2022 Vandoren Emerging Artist (VEA) Solo Competition. The VEA competition began in 2010 as a way to identify the next generation of great clarinetists and saxophonists and acknowledge them for their talent, hard work and artistry. As the… Continue reading Anders Peterson wins second prize in clarinet competition


Photo of DMA student Angelica Brooks

Music Teaching & Learning program doctoral student Angelica Brooks wins 2022 Presser Music Award

March 15, 2022

USC Thornton Music Teaching & Learning doctoral student Angelica Brooks has won this year’s Presser Music Award. The award is given to a graduate student demonstrating excellence and outstanding promise for a distinguished career in the field of music. Brooks will use the grant to hold a conference at USC in June for academic professors,… Continue reading Music Teaching & Learning program doctoral student Angelica Brooks wins 2022 Presser Music Award


Photo of Emily Hsu playing the violin

Emily Hsu featured in USC Trojan Family

March 14, 2022

“Second-year USC Thornton student Emily Hsu was featured in a USC Trojan Family magazine story about how students can forge their own academic paths at USC. Hsu currently studies violin performance at the USC Thornton School of Music and business administration at the USC Marshall School of Business. She also manages the Student Symphony Orchestra… Continue reading Emily Hsu featured in USC Trojan Family


A black/white cool portrait of Andrew Rudy

Andrew Rudy featured in Los Angeles publication

March 10, 2022

Andrew Rudy, a USC Thornton Music Industry program student, was recently interviewed by local publication Shoutout LA. In the piece, he talked about what keeps him busy as an artist, what he wants his legacy to be and which people in his life deserve recognition. “I love every facet that goes into making my music.… Continue reading Andrew Rudy featured in Los Angeles publication


Photo of Marina Hovhannisyan singing

Marina Hovhannisyan releases EP of Armenian music

March 9, 2022

Early music vocal performance master’s student Marina Hovhannisyan released an EP, A Living Story, on Feb. 7. The project features a collection of five Armenian folk songs from different regions, composers and time periods including “Your Prominent Eyes” by Komitas and “Foreign Nightingale” by Sayat Nova.


Picture of Vimbayi Kaziboni conducting

Vimbayi Kaziboni guest conducts the LA Phil New Music Group

March 8, 2022

Critically acclaimed conductor and USC Thornton alumnus Vimbayi Kaziboni guest conducts the LA Phil New Music Group on March 8 at 8 p.m. at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The program includes two world premieres of pieces by Wadada Leo Smith and inti figgis-vizueta. Kaziboni currently serves on the artistic leadership team of the Boston Lyric… Continue reading Vimbayi Kaziboni guest conducts the LA Phil New Music Group


A strings student performs with the orchestra at Capitol Studios.

Thornton students perform in Intercollegiate Studio Orchestra at Capitol Studios

March 7, 2022

USC Thornton graduate students Floriane Naboulet, Veronika Manchur, Emma Antonides, Youngeun Choi and Amelia Hammond recently performed in the Intercollegiate Studio Orchestra at Capitol Studios as part of the Los Angeles Film Conducting Intensive’s The Intensive 2022 workshop. The LAFCI is a media conductor training program created by Thornton alumni Angel Velez (MA ‘14) and… Continue reading Thornton students perform in Intercollegiate Studio Orchestra at Capitol Studios


Photo of Emmy composer and faculty member Laura Karpman

Laura Karpman to compose The Marvels

February 28, 2022

Emmy Award-winning composer and USC Thornton Screen Scoring program faculty member Laura Karpman is set to compose the music for The Marvels, the sequel to Captain Marvel. Karpman previously worked with Marvel Studios on the score for the Disney+ animated series What If…? and she will score the show’s second season.


Photo of Professor Beatriz Ilari

Beatriz Ilari interviewed by the Wall Street Journal

February 23, 2022

USC Thornton Music Teaching & Learning Program Chair Beatriz Ilari was interviewed by the Wall Street Journal about the song “Baby Shark” and its evolution into a worldwide phenomenon. Ilari noted how children love the song for its repetition and parents hate it for the same reason. “Parents get sick and tired of it, but… Continue reading Beatriz Ilari interviewed by the Wall Street Journal