Student Vijay Venkatesh to perform in Parnassus Society Award Concert
Vijay Venkatesh (BM ’17, piano performance), currently a student in the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies program under Norman Krieger, is also winning international acclaim as a concert soloist. The Orange County Register recently published a profile of Venkatesh, who will perform at the Soka Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo on August 30 as part… Continue reading Student Vijay Venkatesh to perform in Parnassus Society Award Concert
Alan Smith premieres composition with Boston Symphony Orchestra
Alan Smith, chair of Keyboard Studies and director of the USC Thornton Keyboard Collaborative Arts program, recently premiered a new composition with the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO). “I’m Memorizing You,” a work for baritone, cello and piano, was commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the Tanglewood Music Center, the BSO’s summer performance venue, and premiered… Continue reading Alan Smith premieres composition with Boston Symphony Orchestra
Piano alumnus Robert Thies performs Prokofiev with Louisville Orchestra
Concert pianist and USC Thornton alumnus Robert Thies (BM ’93, MM ’95, piano) performed Prokofiev’s Concerto No. 3 in C Major, Op. 26, recently with the Louisville Orchestra, receiving a strong review from WUOL.org. Reviewer Daniel Gilliam reported that “Pianist Robert Thies and the orchestra play equal roles, moving gracefully through sometimes quirky, sometimes elegant… Continue reading Piano alumnus Robert Thies performs Prokofiev with Louisville Orchestra
Dongni Xie takes second prize in concerto competition
Dongni Xie, a GCRT candidate in Keyboard Studies and a student of Norman Krieger, recently took second prize in the Young Musicians Foundation 2015 Concerto Competition. In April, Xie was one of three USC Thornton students to win scholarships from the Pasadena Alumnae chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota. And in May, she took Grand Prize… Continue reading Dongni Xie takes second prize in concerto competition
Piano student Esther Lee presents Chicago recital
USC Thornton student Esther Lee (GCRT ’15, keyboard studies) recently presented a solo recital hosted by the International Music Foundation of Chicago as part of their Dame Myra Hess Memorial Concerts series. The May 13 event took place at the Chicago Cultural Center and featured works by Haydn, Chopin and Ravel. Lee is a student… Continue reading Piano student Esther Lee presents Chicago recital
Piano student Evan Pensis selected for USC fellowship
USC Thornton junior Evan Pensis (BM ’16, piano performance) was selected for an Undergraduate Fellowship with the USC Center for Excellence and Teaching for the 2015-16 academic year. Pensis studies under Keyboard Studies professor Daniel Pollack. Pensis was recently awarded First Place in the VSA Kennedy Center International Young Soloists Competition and will present a… Continue reading Piano student Evan Pensis selected for USC fellowship
Alumnus Nic Gerpe featured in REDCAT solo performance
USC Thornton alumnus Nic Gerpe (DMA ’12, piano) will be featured in a solo piano performance at The Roy and Edna Disney/CalArts Theater (REDCAT) on Tuesday, April 28. An international performer with a focus in new music, Gerpe currently serves on the faculty of the Pasadena Conservatory of Music. Gerpe will perform works by Alexina… Continue reading Alumnus Nic Gerpe featured in REDCAT solo performance
Norman Krieger performs Beethoven concerto with the Buffalo Philharmonic
USC Thornton Keyboard Studies faculty Norman Krieger was a featured soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, performing Beethoven’s “Emperor” piano concerto in two concerts on March 27 and 28. A reviewer for the Buffalo News noted that “Krieger, at the piano, showed a special gift for the rapturous melody lines of the ‘Emperor’ – the… Continue reading Norman Krieger performs Beethoven concerto with the Buffalo Philharmonic
Norman Krieger receives favorable review for performance of Rachmaninoff piano concerto
USC Thornton Keyboard Studies professor Norman Krieger‘s March 8 performance of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3 with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra was met with a glowing review by the Ellsworth American. Krieger “proved to be both technically and musically attuned to the piece” and “never pushed but allowed his hands to explore each nuance and… Continue reading Norman Krieger receives favorable review for performance of Rachmaninoff piano concerto
USC Thornton student Jacopo Giacopuzzi merges two passions — music and film
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