Jessica Hall serves as pianist and coach at Wexford Festival Opera in Ireland
Pianist and USC Thornton Keyboard Collaborative Arts alumna Jessica Hall (MM ’09, GC ’11, DMA ’14) has recently served as the principal coach and orchestral pianist for William Bolcom’s opera, Dinner at Eight, at the Wexford Festival Opera in Ireland. Hall has been involved with the piece since 2016, when it was workshopped at the… Continue reading Jessica Hall serves as pianist and coach at Wexford Festival Opera in Ireland
Jeffrey Kahane premieres Sirota septet at the Sarasota Music Festival
Pianist Jeffrey Kahane, a member of the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies faculty, recently concluded his second year as music director of the Sarasota Music Festival with the world premiere of Robert Sirota’s Luminous Bodies septet, in collaboration with the yMusic ensemble. The work’s title refers to the composers that influenced Sirota, including Gershwin, Copland, Bernstein,… Continue reading Jeffrey Kahane premieres Sirota septet at the Sarasota Music Festival
Vicki Ray to perform contemporary piano work for Soundwaves
Pianist and USC Thornton alumna Vicki Ray (DMA ’88) will perform a notable minimalist work, River of 1,000 Streams by composer Daniel Lentz, for the Soundwaves New Music series at the Santa Monica Public Library on Wednesday, May 16th, 2018. Ray’s recording of the piece, for electronically-processed piano, was warmly received by critics last year.… Continue reading Vicki Ray to perform contemporary piano work for Soundwaves
Video of Somang Jeagal in recital at the Greystone Mansion
The Music in the Mansion concert series, which presents chamber music at the historical Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills, recently published a video showcasing a February performance by pianist and 2018 Outstanding Graduate Somang Jeagal (AD ’15, GCRT ’17, MM ’18). The Keyboard Collaborative Arts student and three-time Beverly Hills National Auditions winner was joined… Continue reading Video of Somang Jeagal in recital at the Greystone Mansion
Several volumes of songs by Alan L. Smith published
Several volumes of song arrangements by Alan L. Smith, USC Thornton Keyboard Studies chair and director of Keyboard Collaborative Arts, were recently published by Classical Vocal Reprints. The collection features several volumes of folk song arrangements, some of which were written for renowned mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, and also includes a song cycle for soprano, violin,… Continue reading Several volumes of songs by Alan L. Smith published
Faculty and student chamber performance of Franck Piano Quintet well received
David J. Brown of LA Opus recently reviewed a chamber music performance of César Franck’s Piano Quintet in F minor M.7 by USC Thornton faculty members Glenn Dicterow (first violin), Bernadene Blaha (piano), and Karen Dreyfus (violin), with students Benjamin Lash (cello) and Mann-Wen Lo (violin). The performance was part of the Second Sundays series… Continue reading Faculty and student chamber performance of Franck Piano Quintet well received
Pianist Vicki Ray records new work by Daniel Lentz
Pianist Vicki Ray’s (DMA ’88) recent recording of River of 1,000 Streams by composer Daniel Lentz was warmly reviewed by the website I Care If You Listen. Referring to the USC Thornton alumna as a “Los Angeles luminary,” reviewer Nick Stevens lauded her performance as a “colorful, nuanced, arresting statement,” demonstrating “first-rate artistry.” Lentz’s 28-minute… Continue reading Pianist Vicki Ray records new work by Daniel Lentz
Applications are now open for the LA Phil’s Hack Music LA
Applications are now open for Hack Music LA, a two-day event (October 7 & 8) that will bring together 75 of the country’s most creative makers to develop tools and experiences to expand music for all. The innovative, music-inspired hackathon is hosted by the LA Phil in partnership with the USC Thornton School of Music… Continue reading Applications are now open for the LA Phil’s Hack Music LA
Alan Smith conducts art song residency at Vanderbilt
Pianist Alan L. Smith, chair of Keyboard Studies and director of Keyboard Collaborative Arts at USC Thornton, held a residency last month at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music as part of its Mary Cortner Ragland Master Series. Smith worked with singers and pianists in German, French and British art song. Smith is highly respected… Continue reading Alan Smith conducts art song residency at Vanderbilt
Kristof Van Grysperre conducts New York City Opera production of “Fallujah”
Kristof Van Grysperre (MM ’02, Conducting, DMA ’05, Keyboard Collaborative Arts) made his New York City Opera debut conducting the November production of Fallujah, an opera by composer Tobin Stokes inspired by a U.S. Marine’s struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder after a tour of duty in Iraq. Van Grysperre also conducted the opera’s world premiere… Continue reading Kristof Van Grysperre conducts New York City Opera production of “Fallujah”