Beatriz Ilari interviewed by the Wall Street Journal
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
Ron McCurdy Quartet performs with Pacific Symphony
USC Thornton Jazz Studies Department faculty member and assistant dean of the justice, equity, diversity and inclusion committee Ron McCurdy and his quartet play with the Pacific Symphony on Feb. 27 in a multimedia concert performance of Langston Hughes’ jazz poem suite Ask Your Mama: Twelve Moods for Jazz. Directed by artistic leader and principal… Continue reading Ron McCurdy Quartet performs with Pacific Symphony
The Golden Bridge premieres works from USC Thornton faculty and alumni
During a concert on Feb. 19, The Golden Bridge — a 20-member choral group led by USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music Department faculty member Suzi Digby — will premiere works by fellow choral faculty member Nick Strimple and Thornton alumnus Saunder Choi (MM ‘16). The program includes the world premieres of “The Silver Swan”… Continue reading The Golden Bridge premieres works from USC Thornton faculty and alumni
Quenton Blache performs with the Peninsula Symphony with guest conductor Andrew Shulman
USC Thornton composition and cello performance student Quenton Blache performs with the Peninsula Symphony on Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. The concert will feature guest conductor Andrew Shulman, a USC Thornton Strings Department faculty member, who will be giving a pre-concert lecture at 6:15 p.m. Blache is an accomplished cellist and composer. In 2021, he… Continue reading Quenton Blache performs with the Peninsula Symphony with guest conductor Andrew Shulman
Popular music sophomore Alix Page on tour with Gracie Abrams
Alix Page, a sophomore in the Popular Music program, is opening for Interscope artist Gracie Abrams on the North American leg of her This Is What It Feels Like tour this winter. Page has been recognized for her songwriting and artistry by outlets such as Ones to Watch, and she released her debut EP Old… Continue reading Popular music sophomore Alix Page on tour with Gracie Abrams
Austin Wintory nominated for 2022 Society of Composers & Lyricists Award
USC Thornton Composition program alum Austin Wintory (‘07) is nominated for a 2022 Society of Composers & Lyricists Award for his work on the multiplayer third-person shooter game Aliens: Fireteam Elite. Wintory is best known for his score for the game Journey, which was the first GRAMMY-nominated computer game score. He has also scored nearly… Continue reading Austin Wintory nominated for 2022 Society of Composers & Lyricists Award
Alex Nickson
As senior vice president of television music for DreamWorks Animation, Alex Nickson oversees the musical creative direction for the studio’s rapidly growing slate of original television projects, including content for Netflix, Apple TV+, Peacock, Amazon, Hulu and other leading broadcasters around the world. Some of the most recent series include Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous, Gabby’s Dollhouse, The… Continue reading Alex Nickson
USC Thornton remembers jazz guitarist and former studio guitar faculty member Joe Diorio
Jazz guitarist and former USC Thornton Studio Guitar program faculty member Joe Diorio passed away at the age of 85 on Feb. 2. During his career, Diorio established himself as a fixture of the American jazz scene, playing with Sonny Stitt, Hal Crook, Anita O’Day, Jaco Pastorius and Freddie Hubbard, among others. Diorio was inspired… Continue reading USC Thornton remembers jazz guitarist and former studio guitar faculty member Joe Diorio
Sophie Beem profiled in Daily Trojan
USC Thornton junior Sophie Beem was recently featured in an article for the Daily Trojan. The piece explored Beem’s journey in the music industry as a songwriter and an artist. Before attending Thornton, Beem was signed to a three-year deal with Beyoncé’s management and entertainment company, Parkwood Entertainment, and she also toured with Charlie Puth… Continue reading Sophie Beem profiled in Daily Trojan
Jon Burlingame wins 2021 ASCAP Award for penning Midnight Cowboy essay
Last year, Jon Burlingame, a faculty member in USC Thornton’s Screen Scoring program, received the ASCAP Foundation Paul Williams “Loved the Liner Notes” Award for his 4,000-word essay that was included in an expanded reissue of the Midnight Cowboy film soundtrack. Burlingame is widely recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on movie music… Continue reading Jon Burlingame wins 2021 ASCAP Award for penning Midnight Cowboy essay