Lenny Hayes debuts at Walt Disney Concert Hall with the Inner City Youth Orchestra
Keyboard Studies doctoral student, graduate teaching assistant and pianist Leonard (Lenny) Hayes was the featured guest artist during a performance with the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles at Walt Disney Concert Hall on July 10. His debut at the storied hall, the performance featured a piano and orchestra arrangement of Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata.”
Katelyn Vahala named a prize winner at 2022 International Bach Competition
Thornton Keyboard Studies Department doctoral student Katelyn Vahala (’18, MM ’21) was named a Bach prize winner in piano at the 2022 International Johann Sebastian Bach Competition held July 12-23 in Leipzig, Germany. In 2019, Vahala was among the winners of the Rosalyn Tureck International Bach Competition, where she also won the contemporary music award.… Continue reading Katelyn Vahala named a prize winner at 2022 International Bach Competition
Steven Vanhauwaert joins faculty at University of Utah School of Music
Pianist Steven Vanhauwaert (MM ’06, GCRT ’08), an alumnus of the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies program, was named an assistant professor of piano/collaborative piano at the University of Utah’s School of Music. He will begin his new position in the fall 2022 semester.
Thornton Keyboard Studies program student Cameron Williams featured in The Daily Trojan
Cameron Williams, a USC Thornton student majoring in piano performance and computer science games, discussed his passions for both music and designing video games in an article for the Daily Trojan. Williams began studying piano with USC Thornton faculty member Bernadene Blaha when he was a senior in high school, and he has continued to… Continue reading Thornton Keyboard Studies program student Cameron Williams featured in The Daily Trojan
Thornton students and alumni win at Virginia Waring International Piano Competition
Several USC Thornton students and alumni won awards in the 2022 Virginia Waring International Piano Competition. Christopher Richardson, a master’s student in the Thornton Keyboard Studies program, won second place in the concerto division. Keyboard studies DMA candidate Andrew Boyle and USC Thornton alumnus Benjamin Hopkins (BM ’12, GC ’14, MM ’16) also won solo… Continue reading Thornton students and alumni win at Virginia Waring International Piano Competition
Kevin Fitz-Gerald and Sharon Lavery perform with the Downey Symphony Orchestra
On May 7 at 8 p.m., Thornton Keyboard Studies Department Professor Kevin Fitz-Gerald performed as a soloist with the Downey Symphony Orchestra in “Third Time’s A Charm,” an evening of music featuring Mozart’s overture to Don Giovanni and Beethoven’s Concerto for Violin, Cello and Piano in C Major, Op. 56. The symphony, which features many… Continue reading Kevin Fitz-Gerald and Sharon Lavery perform with the Downey Symphony Orchestra
Meet the new faculty: Seth Parker Woods
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
Thornton alumni perform with Beyoncé and Billie Eilish for the Oscars
USC Thornton alumni, including flutist Gina Luciani (MM ’13), pianist Elise Solberg (’18), viola player Karoline Menezes (MM ’15, GCRT ’17) and tubist India Anderson (‘21), joined Beyoncé for her performance of the Oscar-nominated song “Be Alive” from the film King Richard for the 2022 Oscars. Menezes and Luciani also performed with Billie Eilish and… Continue reading Thornton alumni perform with Beyoncé and Billie Eilish for the Oscars
Vijay Venkatesh talks the importance of channeling life experience into his playing on The Playful Musician podcast
Vijay Venkatesh (‘17), an alumnus of the USC Thornton Keyboard Studies Department, was recently a guest on The Playful Musician podcast. During his conversation with host Steve Davidson, he spoke about the importance of channeling life experiences into his performances. “Channeling life experiences into a piece of music is also paramount to releasing its character.… Continue reading Vijay Venkatesh talks the importance of channeling life experience into his playing on The Playful Musician podcast
Lenny Hayes performs virtual concert as part of Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration
Classical pianist and keyboard studies doctoral student Lenny Hayes will give a livestreamed performance Saturday, Jan. 15 at 2 p.m. as part of the Santa Monica Symphony’s Virtual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Concert. The event also features a question-and-answer session with Hayes and Darlene Evans, chair of The Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.… Continue reading Lenny Hayes performs virtual concert as part of Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration