Michael Abels featured in Billboard about diversifying the film scoring industry
Michael Abels (BM ‘84), an award-winning composer and USC Thornton alumnus, was featured alongside Bridgerton composer Kris Bowers in a Billboard story about composers helping to diversify the film scoring industry. Abels spoke about how he started working with Get Out director Jordan Peele and how that opportunity led him to co-found the Composers Diversity… Continue reading Michael Abels featured in Billboard about diversifying the film scoring industry
Doug Petty
Doug Petty is a pianist, arranger and composer living in Los Angeles. A top call session player, he has recorded and performed with many of today’s biggest artists including Rihanna, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Enrique Iglesias, Tears for Fears, Roseanne Cash, Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, Westlife and the Backstreet Boys to name just a few.… Continue reading Doug Petty
Jazz Studies faculty and alumni collaborated with Michael Bublé on chart-topping holiday album
This month, Michael Bublé’s tenth anniversary edition of Let It Snow! topped Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Charts. The album features arrangements by Thornton Jazz Studies Department Chair Jason Goldman (BM ’04) and features several Thornton alumni including pianist Alan Chang (BM ’02), trumpeter Bryan Lipps and drummer Robert Perkins (BM ’97, MM ’02). USC Thornton faculty… Continue reading Jazz Studies faculty and alumni collaborated with Michael Bublé on chart-topping holiday album
Emily Rosenfield tours with Hamilton (And Peggy) Company
Session guitarist and USC Thornton Studio Guitar alum Emily Rosenfield (’16) is the first female guitarist to tour with the Hamilton (And Peggy) Company. She is also part of Hamilton‘s first-ever majority female band. The company’s music director, Lily Ling, called Rosenfield “amazing” in the November issue of International Musician. Rosenfield has previously played on… Continue reading Emily Rosenfield tours with Hamilton (And Peggy) Company
Bruce Forman featured on cover of Jazz Guitar Today
Guitarist Bruce Forman, a faculty member in the Thornton Studio Guitar program, was the focus of a cover story in the latest issue of Jazz Guitar Today. In the feature, Forman speaks about his new album, Reunion!, the way that storytelling influences his music and how he developed the skill to hold a conversation and… Continue reading Bruce Forman featured on cover of Jazz Guitar Today
Peter Erskine and Vince Mendoza honored at 2021 Jazz Tribute Awards Concert
USC Thornton Jazz Studies Department faculty members Peter Erskine and Vince Mendoza will be honored at the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s 2021 Jazz Tribute Awards Concert on December 4 at The Montalban Theatre in Hollywood. Erskine will be recognized as the Tribute Honoree and Mendoza will receive the Composer/Arranger Award. This annual concert celebrates jazz… Continue reading Peter Erskine and Vince Mendoza honored at 2021 Jazz Tribute Awards Concert
USC Thornton ranked among top 20 music schools for composing for film and TV by The Hollywood Reporter
This month, the USC Thornton School of Music topped the list of the 20 best music schools for composing for film and TV by The Hollywood Reporter. The rankings noted Thornton’s commitment to inclusivity — women comprise 50% of students currently enrolled in the screen scoring program, making it one of the most gender-diverse programs… Continue reading USC Thornton ranked among top 20 music schools for composing for film and TV by The Hollywood Reporter
Jongnic Bontemps nominated for Critics Choice Documentary Award
Screen Scoring alum Jongnic Bontemps (GCRT ’12) has been nominated for Best Score at the 2021 Critics Choice Association’s Documentary Awards for his work on Amazon Studios’ My Name is Pauli Murray. The winners will be announced at a gala on November 14 in Brooklyn. Bontemps is a critically-acclaimed film composer known for fusing a… Continue reading Jongnic Bontemps nominated for Critics Choice Documentary Award
Thornton Popular Music alumni earn international airplay for “Maggie Dave – Old You”
“Old You,” a single released by pop duo Maggie Dave featuring several Thornton Popular Music alums, aired on Netherlands’ NPO Radio 2 with DJ Giel Beelen. Alumni performing on the track include Tehillah Alphonso (‘20) arranging and performing backing vocals, John C. Schroeder (‘10) and Mallory Hauser (‘19) on guitar, and Ian Wurfl (‘16) on… Continue reading Thornton Popular Music alumni earn international airplay for “Maggie Dave – Old You”
Thornton Studio Guitar faculty member Bruce Forman releases “REUNION!” album
USC Thornton Studio Guitar faculty member Bruce Forman recently released his newest project, REUNION!. For this album, Forman collaborated with renowned bassist John Clayton and jazz drummer Jeff Hamilton to pay tribute to each of their respective mentors: Barney Kessel, Ray Brown and Shelley Man, also known as The Poll Winners. Throughout the entirety of… Continue reading Thornton Studio Guitar faculty member Bruce Forman releases “REUNION!” album