Jennifer Marotta, Equity Arc Wind Symphony Perform
Trumpet player and USC Thornton faculty member Jennifer Marotta was featured in a CBS “60 Minutes” segment that aired on March 16, covering the United States Marine Band concert with teens from Equity Arc that was canceled due to an executive order banning DEI programs throughout the government. The story covered how a new concert… Continue reading Jennifer Marotta, Equity Arc Wind Symphony Perform
Juan Pablo Contreras named co-chair of New Music USA’s Board of Directors
Juan Pablo Contreras (DMA ’21), a USC Thornton Composition program faculty member and alumnus, was named the new co-chair of New Music USA’s Board of Directors alongside Anne-Marie Spataru, effective July 1, 2025. Contreras and Spataru will guide New Music USA into its next chapter, as the organization’s Board begins recruitment for its next president… Continue reading Juan Pablo Contreras named co-chair of New Music USA’s Board of Directors
Patrice Rushen receives Roland Corporation Lifetime Achievement Award
USC Thornton Popular Music program faculty member Patrice Rushen received Roland Corporation’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2025 National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Show in Anaheim, CA. Roland Corporation is a manufacturer and distributor of electronic musical instruments. Rushen was awarded for impacting the music industry as a trailblazer and mentor to young musicians.… Continue reading Patrice Rushen receives Roland Corporation Lifetime Achievement Award
Carl St.Clair named one of the 125 most influential people in Orange County
Carl St.Clair, artistic leader and principal conductor of the USC Thornton Orchestras, was named one of the 125 most influential people in Orange County by the OC Register. St.Clair was recognized for his impact as the Pacific Symphony’s music director for 35 years. This list by the OC Register aims to highlight people who made… Continue reading Carl St.Clair named one of the 125 most influential people in Orange County
Camae Ayewa Receives Acclaim in Minneapolis & Philadelphia
USC Thornton Composition program faculty member Camae Ayewa (Moor Mother) was named on a list of the “Top 10 Classical Music Events of 2024” by the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “In one of the most powerful artistic experiences I’ve had this century, the audaciously courageous composer and poet Camae Ayewa and seven musicians confronted the legacy… Continue reading Camae Ayewa Receives Acclaim in Minneapolis & Philadelphia
Seth Parker Woods included in The New York Times’ list of “Best Classical Music Albums of 2024”
Seth Parker Woods, Robert Mann Chair in Strings and Chamber Music at USC Thornton, was included in The New York Times‘ list of “Best Classical Music Albums of 2024.” Woods was recognized for his performance as a featured soloist in Wild Up’s Eastman Vol. 4: The Holy Presence, an exploration of composer Julius Eastman’s works… Continue reading Seth Parker Woods included in The New York Times’ list of “Best Classical Music Albums of 2024”
Amy Blackman
Amy Blackman was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. After receiving an MA in Cultural Anthropology from Columbia University, she began a career in artist management, based in Los Angeles. For 18 years, Blackman managed the global businesses of multi-Grammy Award winning music artists and producers. Between 2007-2011, she was made cultural ambassador for the US… Continue reading Amy Blackman
Adam Knight Gilbert appears in Alamire Foundation video series
Adam Knight Gilbert, director of the Early Music department and chair of the Musicology program at USC Thornton, appeared in the debut episode of the Alamire Foundation’s video series “Leuven Chansonnier in Perspective,” which studies a famous 15th-century songbook from Belgium. Gilbert discussed the use of existing melodies in the 15th century. “I think in… Continue reading Adam Knight Gilbert appears in Alamire Foundation video series
Nate Sloan quoted on NPR’s Morning Edition
Nate Sloan, a USC Thornton Musicology faculty member, made an appearance on NPR’s Morning Edition on Oct. 7 about Bop Spotter, a box-shaped device programmed to capture the soundscape of a San Francisco neighborhood. According to NPR, the box contains an old phone that logs about 150 tracks each day, including Nipsey Hussle, Celine Dion,… Continue reading Nate Sloan quoted on NPR’s Morning Edition
Troy Quinn to conduct Boston Symphony Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve celebration
Troy Quinn, a faculty member in the USC Thornton Conducting program, will make his Boston Symphony Orchestra debut conducting their New Year’s Eve celebration with singer Bernadette Peters. Taking place on Dec. 31 at 8:00 p.m., the concert will feature Broadway classics and more. Click here to buy tickets. *** Photo courtesy of TristateHomepage.com.