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
Student chamber duo wins prizes in Boulder
Cellist Coleman Itzkoff (MM ’16) and pianist Alin Melik-Adamyan (’12, MM ’14, piano), who perform as the Amicus Duo, recently earned top prizes at the Boulder International Chamber Music Competition, winning second prize overall and a special prize for best performance of Arthur Gottschalk’s Some Assembly Required. The USC Thornton student duo formed in 2014… Continue reading Student chamber duo wins prizes in Boulder
Alumnus Mark Robson’s Piano Spheres performance praised by the L.A. Times
Pianist and USC Thornton alumnus Mark Robson (MM ’89) presented an adventurous program as part of REDCAT’s Piano Spheres series at REDCAT last month, featuring works by Stockhausen, Glass, and Rihm. Robson also premiered new work by the Los Angeles composer Daniel Rothman. Mark Swed of the Los Angeles Times described Robson’s Piano Spheres performance… Continue reading Alumnus Mark Robson’s Piano Spheres performance praised by the L.A. Times
Alumnus Somang Jeagal performs at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.
Pianist and USC Thornton alumnus Somang Jeagal (Artist Diploma ’15, piano) recently performed at the Phillips Collection art museum in Washington, D.C., as a part of the “Phillips After 5” music series. Jeagal performed Rachmaninoff’s Piano Sonata No. 2, as well as Chopin’s four piano scherzos. The Korean-born pianist, who attended Thornton on a full… Continue reading Alumnus Somang Jeagal performs at the Phillips Collection in Washington, D.C.
Pianist Daniel Pollack receives the first Ambassador of Cultural Forum honor in Russia
Throughout his career, USC Thornton Keyboard Studies faculty member Daniel Pollack has been working to bring together the cultures of Russia and the United States. In December, the world renowned pianist was awarded the honorary diploma of Ambassador of Cultural Forum at the Saint Petersburg International Cultural Forum. He is the first person to receive… Continue reading Pianist Daniel Pollack receives the first Ambassador of Cultural Forum honor in Russia
USC Thornton faculty and musicians attending music education camp in Brazil
USC Thornton Dean Robert Cutietta is currently attending GLOMUS, a gathering of international music and arts education professionals in Natal, Brazil, along with several Thornton students and faculty. The biennial event, which is hosted by the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, aims to “create a forum for intercultural exchange in the fields of… Continue reading USC Thornton faculty and musicians attending music education camp in Brazil
Alumni Micah Wright and Jason Lo to compete at MTNA
USC Thornton alumni Micah Wright (DMA ’15, clarinet) and Jason Lo (MM ’12, DMA ’16, piano) recently won the Music Teachers National Association Young Artist Woodwind State Competition. This month, they will perform in the Regional Competition in Honolulu, Hawaii. Outside of the competition, Wright currently performs with Trio Brillante and the Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra.… Continue reading Alumni Micah Wright and Jason Lo to compete at MTNA
Grant Gershon to be honored at 84th USC Alumni Awards
On April 22, 2017, the USC Alumni Association will honor seven distinguished alumni, including conductor and USC Thornton Board of Councilors member Grant Gershon (’85, piano), at the 84th annual Alumni Awards. Gershon is Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Resident Conductor of the Los Angeles Opera, and has emerged as one of… Continue reading Grant Gershon to be honored at 84th USC Alumni Awards
Thornton Winners at Los Angeles International Liszt Competition
Several students of the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies department took prizes at the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition held last month at Azusa Pacific University. Hanbo Ma (pictured at left), a DMA candidate under professor Daniel Pollack, won the top prize in the prestigious Budapest Concert Division, earning a solo recital tour to Washington D.C.,… Continue reading Thornton Winners at Los Angeles International Liszt Competition
International Artist Fellow Wesley Chu featured in web profile
Wesley Chu, an International Artist Fellow studying in the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies department, was recently profiled on the website of the USC Office of International Services in a piece titled “Coffee with ‘SC Celebrity Wesley Chu.” A piano prodigy born in Calgary, Canada, Chu had performed for Nelson Mandela and completed the entire Canadian… Continue reading International Artist Fellow Wesley Chu featured in web profile