Posts Tagged ‘Keyboard Collaborative Arts’


Photo of Yu-Ting Peng by a piano

Yu-Ting Peng wins Music Academy of the West competition

September 6, 2022

USC Thornton Keyboard Collaborative Arts program doctoral student Yu-Ting Peng won the Music Academy of the West’s Duo Competition this summer. Her classmate, Matthew Harikian, performed in the competition finals. Both students study with Kevin Fitz-Gerald, a professor in the Thornton Keyboard Studies and Keyboard Collaborative Arts programs.


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Alan L. Smith releases song cycle featuring pianist Ryan MacEvoy McCullough

August 31, 2022

USC Thornton Professor, Chair of the Keyboard Studies Department and Director of Keyboard Collaborative Arts program Alan L. Smith has released the song cycle “Surfing The Thin Places.” Smith composed the music and words in remembrance of his mother, who passed away in April 2018. Commissioned by the Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar, the song… Continue reading Alan L. Smith releases song cycle featuring pianist Ryan MacEvoy McCullough


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Meet the new faculty: Seth Parker Woods

April 11, 2022

As part of a new series this spring, USC Thornton is introducing a number of exceptional new faculty members at the school. Acclaimed cellist Dr. Seth Parker Woods  joins the faculty as an assistant professor of practice, string chamber music and cello. A recipient of the 2022 Chamber Music America Michael Jaffee Visionary Award and hailed by The Guardian as “a cellist of power and grace” who possesses “mature artistry and… Continue reading Meet the new faculty: Seth Parker Woods


Photo of Lenny Hayes

Lenny Hayes receives top prize at Los Angeles Korean-American Musicians’ Association’s 2021 Scholarship Competition

December 8, 2021

Classical pianist and keyboard studies doctoral student Lenny Hayes received first prize in the 2021 Los Angeles Korean-American Musicians’ Association (LAKMA) Scholarship Competition. The scholarship is awarded annually to college students who are majoring in music. As one of the winners, Hayes will be performing the first movement of the Price concerto with the LAKMA… Continue reading Lenny Hayes receives top prize at Los Angeles Korean-American Musicians’ Association’s 2021 Scholarship Competition


Rixiang Huang awarded first prize in Chopin International Piano Competition

March 23, 2021

Pianist Rixiang Huang was awarded first prize in the Piano Masters category of the Chopin International Piano Competition. Held annually in Hartford, Connecticut, the competition was held virtually this year. Huang performed Chopin’s Barcarolle, Rondo in E-flat major, Scherzo No. 3 as well as Bartok’s Piano Sonata and Rachmaninoff’s Études-Tableaux, Op. 39 in the final… Continue reading Rixiang Huang awarded first prize in Chopin International Piano Competition


New Opera West releases animated opera short

March 17, 2021

New Opera West, a nonprofit opera company co-founded by Vocal Arts doctoral student Emily Thebaut and Composition faculty member Mark Weiser, recently released “Pepito.” The animated dog opera written by Nicolas Lell Benavides, a doctoral student in the Composition program, is currently streaming on Vimeo. The work was animated by Esperanza Guevara, Connor Jacobs, and… Continue reading New Opera West releases animated opera short


Portrait of Elvia Puccinelli

Alumna Elvia Puccinelli launches first international society for keyboard collaborative arts

October 22, 2020

USC Thornton alumna Elvia Puccinelli (MM ’91, DMA ’00) led the launch of the first international society for keyboard collaborative arts, the International Keyboard Collaborative Arts Society, as part of the fifth annual CollabFest conference on Oct. 15-17. Puccinelli, associate professor of music and coordinator of collaborative piano at the University of North Texas College of… Continue reading Alumna Elvia Puccinelli launches first international society for keyboard collaborative arts


Many musicians with string insruments stand together in a white room

Thornton artists awarded San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards

September 17, 2020

Multiple USC Thornton artists and alumni-founded ensembles were awarded San Francisco Classical Voice’s Audience Choice Awards for the 2019-2020 season. This year was the first-ever Audience Choice Awards with a category dedicated to celebrating the vibrant classical music scene in Los Angeles. HOCKET, the piano duo of alumni Sarah Gibson (MM ‘10, DMA ‘15) and… Continue reading Thornton artists awarded San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards


Andrew Harrison holding saxophone on brick background

Andrew Harrison to launch new online concert series

September 1, 2020

USC Thornton alum and saxophonist Andrew Harrison (DMA ’15) will launch a new online concert series, Concert Cast, on Tues., Sept. 1. An advocate for contemporary saxophone music, Harrison will perform with pianist Jason Lo (MM ’12, DMA ’16) in a program that features works by Bozza, Eiunaudi, Rachmaninoff, Ravel, and more. The event will… Continue reading Andrew Harrison to launch new online concert series


Picture of cellist's hand with bow

Twelve Thornton students and alumni among winners of 2020-2021 Beverly Hills National Auditions

July 26, 2020

Winners of the 2020-2021 Beverly Hills National Auditions (BHNA) were recently announced, and among them are a long list of 12 students and alumni of USC Thornton. Each year, the BHNA selects winners to be presented the following season in a series of monthly concerts across Southern California. In consideration of restrictions on in-person events,… Continue reading Twelve Thornton students and alumni among winners of 2020-2021 Beverly Hills National Auditions