Posts Tagged ‘Faculty’


Portrait of Mark Weiser

Mark Weiser’s Music for Saxophone receives glowing reviews

January 29, 2021

USC Thornton Composition faculty member Mark Weiser’s album Music for Saxophone received glowing reviews from The Saxophone Symposium and The Saxophonist. In the most recent edition of The Saxophone Symposium, the journal of the North American Saxophone Alliance, Julia Nolan describes the album, featuring members of the Capitol Quartet, as “delightful,” “challenging,” and “wonderfully reflective.”… Continue reading Mark Weiser’s Music for Saxophone receives glowing reviews


Midori Goto holding violin

Midori named a Kennedy Center Honoree for 2021

January 15, 2021

Celebrated violinist Midori, who served on the USC Thornton faculty for 14 years until 2018 and is currently a Judge Widney Professor of Music at USC, was named a Kennedy Center Honoree for 2021. This year’s award, which celebrates a lifetime of artistic achievement, also includes Debbie Allen, Joan Baez, Garth Brooks, and Dick Van… Continue reading Midori named a Kennedy Center Honoree for 2021


jason goldman in red jacket and sunglasses

Jason Goldman featured in JAZZed Magazine cover story

December 10, 2020

Jason Goldman, chair of the Jazz Studies program, was featured in the cover story of the latest issue of JAZZed Magazine. In the feature, Goldman shares at length about his music career, his experience teaching at USC Thornton, and his own recent releases. Goldman also shares pieces of advice he hopes to impart on his… Continue reading Jason Goldman featured in JAZZed Magazine cover story


Jeffrey Kahane standing against piano.

Jeffrey Kahane launches new podcast series about classical music in America

December 2, 2020

Jeffrey Kahane, a faculty member in the Keyboard Studies program, has released the first episode of a new podcast series, Classical Music in America, which explores the evolution of America’s musical identity through books on classical music. The series is produced in partnership with the Sarasota Orchestra, where Kahane serves as Artistic Advisor. One episode… Continue reading Jeffrey Kahane launches new podcast series about classical music in America


Photo of Professor Beatriz Ilari

Beatriz Ilari to speak at 16th Annual McMaster Neuromusic Virtual Conference

November 5, 2020

Faculty member Beatriz Ilari, chair of the Music Teaching & Learning program, will be a keynote speaker at the 16th Annual McMaster Neuromusic Virtual Conference on Nov. 14. Ilari, a renowned author and researcher in the areas of music, child development and cognition, will deliver a talk entitled “Cross-cultural music research with children: Lessons from… Continue reading Beatriz Ilari to speak at 16th Annual McMaster Neuromusic Virtual Conference


Lynn Helding pictured in black sweater against backdrop of blue bricks

Lynn Helding authors paper on COVID-19 effects on vocalists

September 23, 2020

USC Thornton Vocal Arts and Opera faculty member Lynn Helding is the lead author of “COVID-19 After Effects: Concerns for Singers,” a new paper published in the Journal of Voice. The paper, co-authored by Dr. Michael Johns, director of the USC Voice Center at Keck Medicine, offers an in-depth look at the potential damages and… Continue reading Lynn Helding authors paper on COVID-19 effects on vocalists


Black and white image of Nick Stoubis

Nick Stoubis featured on new release by Jaden Smith

September 10, 2020

Nick Stoubis, chair of the Studio Guitar program, is featured on CTV3 (Cool Tape Vol. 3), the new release by Jaden Smith, the son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith. Stoubis co-wrote and co-produced seven songs, including the song “Falling for You” featuring Justin Bieber, and the single “Rainbow Bap.” In addition, Stoubis played guitar and… Continue reading Nick Stoubis featured on new release by Jaden Smith


jason goldman in red jacket and sunglasses

Jason Goldman releases “Hypnotized,” new EP of jazz arrangements

September 2, 2020

Jason Goldman, chair of the Jazz Studies program and a celebrated producer and arranger, has released a new EP, “Hypnotized,” featuring arrangements from the American Songbook and original songs in the same style. Known for his award-winning arrangements with singer Michael Bublé, Goldman, often known professionally as “Spicy G,” featured three exceptional vocalists: Erin Bentlage,… Continue reading Jason Goldman releases “Hypnotized,” new EP of jazz arrangements


Photo of Laura Karpman outdoors

Laura Karpman scores HBO’s “Lovecraft Country”

August 12, 2020

Laura Karpman, an Emmy Award-winning composer and faculty member in the Screen Scoring program, was recently announced as one of the composers for HBO’s highly anticipated new horror series, “Lovecraft Country,” alongside Raphael Saadiq, with whom Karpman has scored multiple projects. As the pair created the score during the COVID-19 pandemic, Karpman and Saadiq utilized… Continue reading Laura Karpman scores HBO’s “Lovecraft Country”


Portrait of Andrew Leff outdoors.

Andrew Leff

July 23, 2020

Andrew Leff is a 20-year veteran of the music industry and an attorney, working with and advocating for artists throughout his career.  After his graduation from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1996, Leff quickly became an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, NY.  He later made a shift into entertainment law and business management, as… Continue reading Andrew Leff