Morten Lauridsen and Grant Gershon discuss 25th anniversary of “O Magnem Mysterium” on KUSC
USC Thornton alum Grant Gershon (BM ’85) and Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Composition and Thornton alum Morten Lauridsen recently appeared on KUSC’s Arts Alive to discuss the Los Angeles Master Chorale’s 25th anniversary of Lauridsen’s “O Magnum Mysterium.” The Master Chorale premiered the iconic work, and will perform it on Sunday, Dec. 15 in celebration… Continue reading Morten Lauridsen and Grant Gershon discuss 25th anniversary of “O Magnem Mysterium” on KUSC
Jeffrey Kahane lauded for performance of Bach’s “Goldberg Variations”
Keyboard Studies faculty member and acclaimed pianist Jeffrey Kahane opened the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center’s Baroque Festival on Dec. 3 with a lecture and lauded performance of Bach’s “Goldberg Variations.” As one of few masters of the work, Kahane opened the evening with a brief lecture with the assistance of the Calidore String… Continue reading Jeffrey Kahane lauded for performance of Bach’s “Goldberg Variations”
Karen Parks performs in Off-Broadway production and charity concert
Vocal Arts and Opera faculty member Karen Parks has recently performed in an off-Broadway musical in New York City, and will perform in a charity concert in New York City in December. On Nov. 8, Parks performed in a musical titled “Mighty Funny Kinda’ Love,” that focused on eight women dealing with forbidden love and… Continue reading Karen Parks performs in Off-Broadway production and charity concert
USC Thornton faculty and alumnus to perform in benefit concert for Paradise Fire victims
Sunday, Nov. 24, USC Thornton Classical Guitar faculty members William Kanengiser and Scott Tennant (of the GRAMMY-winning Los Angeles Guitar Quartet) and USC Thornton flamenco virtuoso and faculty member Adam del Monte will perform in a benefit concert, “Recuerdos de Paradise,” to support the victims of the Paradise Fire in 2018. Performing alongside them are flamenco… Continue reading USC Thornton faculty and alumnus to perform in benefit concert for Paradise Fire victims
Bernadene Blaha joins violinist Robert Davidovici in Beethoven celebration
Keyboard Studies faculty member and concert pianist Bernadene Blaha will join Robert Davidovici for a two-part concert of selected Beethoven Sonatas at the FIU Music Festival. The performance will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig Van Beethoven and will be performed in two installments at Miami Beach Urban Studios in Miami Beach,… Continue reading Bernadene Blaha joins violinist Robert Davidovici in Beethoven celebration
Ted Hearne releases new album “Hazy Heart Pump”
Composition faculty member Ted Hearne has released a new album, “Hazy Heart Pump,” from New Focus Recordings. The album of chamber works includes unique collaborations between Hearne and other performers, such as a piece with renowned poet Saul Williams in which Hearne composed music around Williams’ reading of a spoken word poem. The album also… Continue reading Ted Hearne releases new album “Hazy Heart Pump”
Frank Ticheli and Morten Lauridsen featured on PBS show
A new SoCal PBS show called American Voices featuring three Southern California composers, including Composition faculty member Frank Ticheli, will premiere on Nov. 1 at 8:30 p.m. American Voices will focus on Ticheli, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Composition Morten Lauridsen, and Eric Whitacre and their journeys of being American choral composers who are prominent in… Continue reading Frank Ticheli and Morten Lauridsen featured on PBS show
Nate Sloan weighs in on new era of “Anxiety Pop”
Musicology professor Nate Sloan was recently quoted in an Elle Magazine article about the origins of “Anxiety Pop,” a new genere of popular music often characterized by upbeat music with sad lyrics. Sloan says that, throughout history, “the worse society is doing, the more bubbly and escapist pop music becomes.” While popular music may once… Continue reading Nate Sloan weighs in on new era of “Anxiety Pop”
Andrae Alexander
Andrae Alexander is a Grammy Award-winning (2022 Album of the Year – Jon Batiste, “We Are”) composer, musician and professor who moved to Los Angeles in 2009 from Maryland. He is also a veteran of the United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy Band of Washington, D.C., which is a Presidential Support Unit.… Continue reading Andrae Alexander
Nate Sloan breaks down sound and structure of Broadway musicals in podcast Switched on Pop
Switched on Pop, a podcast hosted by Musicology faculty member Nate Sloan and songwriter Charlie Harding, recently collaborated with the OFF BOOK podcast to bring listeners a “Switched Off Book” episode. The episode includes a breakdown of the sound and structure of a Broadway show as well as an improvised musical written by Scott, Dana… Continue reading Nate Sloan breaks down sound and structure of Broadway musicals in podcast Switched on Pop