Posts Tagged ‘Contemporary Music’


Applications are now open for the LA Phil’s Hack Music LA

August 29, 2017

Applications are now open for Hack Music LA, a two-day event (October 7 & 8) that will bring together 75 of the country’s most creative makers to develop tools and experiences to expand music for all. The innovative, music-inspired hackathon is hosted by the LA Phil in partnership with the USC Thornton School of Music… Continue reading Applications are now open for the LA Phil’s Hack Music LA


Pete Anthony

August 24, 2017

Pete Anthony is one of the busiest orchestrators and conductors in the Los Angeles film industry. In his 30-plus years in the business, he has worked on over 500 feature films with Hollywood’s top composers, including James Newton Howard, Danny Elfman, Ludwig Göransson, John Powell, Marco Beltrami, Marc Shaiman, John Debney, Theodore Shapiro and Christopher… Continue reading Pete Anthony


Steve Trovato

August 9, 2017

Steve Trovato is a faculty member in the Studio Guitar and Popular Music departments at the USC Thornton School of Music. A world-class guitarist, he has released several recordings under his own name that all received favorable reviews. Trovato’s masterly technique, intoxicating spontaneity and mesmerizing choice of material never fail to dazzle audiences everywhere. His kaleidoscopic… Continue reading Steve Trovato


Black and white portrait of Alan Pasqua

Alan Pasqua featured in Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize lecture

June 8, 2017

Jazz pianist and USC Thornton faculty member Alan Pasqua recently received an extraordinary request – to contribute improvisational background music for Bob Dylan’s 2016 Nobel Prize lecture, which was released as a video this week. Pasqua, who played in Dylan’s band in the 1970’s, had just one day to record about 30 minutes of original… Continue reading Alan Pasqua featured in Bob Dylan’s Nobel Prize lecture


Moonchild embarks on international tour with new album

June 8, 2017

The band Moonchild, which was formed at USC Thornton in 2012 by Jazz Studies alumni Amber Navran (’12), Max Bryk (’11), and Andris Mattson (’13), is currently in the midst of an extensive North American tour. The Jazz and R&B-influenced group, which has opened for Stevie Wonder, Jose James, and Georgia Anne Muldrow, is promoting… Continue reading Moonchild embarks on international tour with new album


Music Industry alum Golan named Songwriter of the Year

May 18, 2017

The 65th Annual BMI Pop Awards honored Music Industry alumnus Ross Golan (‘01) with the Songwriter of the Year award on Tuesday. Golan, one of two recipients of this year’s award, along with co-winner Justin Tranter, was recognized for his work on Ariana Grande’s “Dangerous Woman,” Andy Grammer’s “Good to Be Alive,” Flo Rida’s “My… Continue reading Music Industry alum Golan named Songwriter of the Year


Sophomore Madeliene Mayi releases new EP – with help from Music Industry students

May 5, 2017

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

April 27, 2017

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

Peter Erskine releases new trio album

April 25, 2017

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

April 21, 2017

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