Three Music Industry Students win MBA scholarships
The Music Business Association recently awarded scholarships to three USC Thornton Music Industry students. Hannah Abrahim, Ugonnaya Chilaka and Chandler Lawn were selected based on their academic achievement and evidence of future potential to receive financial assistance through the Association’s Scholarship Foundation. Since 1966, these scholarships have assisted the children of Music Business Association members… Continue reading Three Music Industry Students win MBA scholarships
Louis Cole and Bob Mintzer collaborate with WDR Big Band
In May, USC Thornton Jazz Studies alumnus Louis Cole (’09) and Genevieve Artadi, his partner in their celebrated electronic funk-pop band, Knower, joined Bob Mintzer, chair of the USC Thornton Jazz Studies program, in a performance with WDR Big Band at JazzFest Bonn. Mintzer, who in 2016 became the bandleader of the award-winning band based… Continue reading Louis Cole and Bob Mintzer collaborate with WDR Big Band
The Yellowjackets featured on Something Else
The music website Something Else recently featured an article on the founding of the Yellowjackets, an iconic jazz quartet that includes three USC Thornton faculty members – saxophonist Bob Mintzer, keyboardist Russell Ferrante, and drummer Will Kennedy. According to the piece, Ferrante met the other founding members, Jimmy Haslip and Ricky Lawson, while working in… Continue reading The Yellowjackets featured on Something Else
Bear McCreary and Ludwig Göransson earn acclaim for television themes
In a Rotten Tomatoes’ article ranking the 21 best TV theme songs of the past 21 years, two USC Thornton alumni made the list. Bear McCreary ’02 ranked fourth for his iconic theme to The Walking Dead, and Screen Scoring alumnus Ludwig Göransson’s (GC ’08) theme for the comedy Community was listed as sixteenth. In April, Göransson… Continue reading Bear McCreary and Ludwig Göransson earn acclaim for television themes
Bear McCreary wins BAFTA Award
USC Thornton Screen Scoring alumnus Bear McCreary ‘02 recently won the 2019 British Academy Games Awards in the Music category for his score of “God of War.” This award is one of many accolades McCreary has earned for this project. He previously was nominated for a Game Audio Network Guild award and won the second… Continue reading Bear McCreary wins BAFTA Award
Sara Gazarek featured on KNKX
Sara Gazarek, a USC Thornton Jazz Studies faculty member and jazz vocalist, was featured on KNKX, a public radio station in the Pacific Northwest that highlights jazz and blues. The story discusses her success and her recent return to Seattle, her hometown, for a series of performances where the vocalist previewed her upcoming album, Thirsty Ghost.
USC Thornton represented in the top 24 of NBC’s “The Voice”
Two contestants who performed live in the round of 24 of NBC’s The Voice Monday night were–past and future–USC Thornton signers. Popular Music alumnus Jej Vinson ’18 punched his ticket into the final 13 with his performance of “Love Lives” by Khalid and Normani. Dominic Haynes, who deferred his admittance to USC Thornton to pursue… Continue reading USC Thornton represented in the top 24 of NBC’s “The Voice”
Billy Childs to headline festival in New Zealand
Billy Childs ’79, a GRAMMY Award-winning artist and USC Thornton alumnus, will headline the 24th annual New Zealand International Jazz and Blues Festival on June 1. He will perform with his quartet alongside Dayna Stephens on saxophone, bassist Alex Boneham and drummer Christian Euman. The five-day, 26-show festival is one of New Zealand’s longest-running music… Continue reading Billy Childs to headline festival in New Zealand
California Jazz Foundation honors Patrice Rushen
Patrice Rushen, chair of USC Thornton’s Popular Music Program, was awarded the prestigious Nica award by the California Jazz Foundation (CJF) earlier this month. The CJF bestows the honor to musicians who exemplify the legacy of Baroness Ponnica de Koenigswarter, a British-born jazz patron and writer who was a leader of bebop music. Robert Cutietta,… Continue reading California Jazz Foundation honors Patrice Rushen
USC Thornton announces 2019 Kanter Award recipients
Two teams of USC Thornton Music Industry students have been selected as recipients of the 2019 Kanter Award. The awardees – Music Industry Master’s student Antriksh Bali and the indie-electronic band Moontower, comprised of Music Industry seniors Jacob Berger and Devan Walsh as well as Music Production senior Tom Carpenter – will each receive $2,125… Continue reading USC Thornton announces 2019 Kanter Award recipients