Remembering Lynn Harrell
Lynn Harrell, the internationally-acclaimed cellist and former faculty member at the USC Thornton School of Music, died on Monday, April 27. He was 76. From 1986 to 1993, Harrell held the Gregor Piatigorsky Chair in Violoncello at USC Thornton where he taught countless cellists who have gone on to remarkable careers including faculty member Ben… Continue reading Remembering Lynn Harrell
Juan Pablo Contreras and Sarah Gibson discuss their craft in LACO roundtable
Doctoral candidate Juan Pablo Contreras and alum Sarah Gibson, both accomplished composers, appeared in the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s first installment of “Table Talk,” a series of roundtable discussions. Originally recorded in February, before safer at home orders took effect, Contreras and Gibson are joined by José Enrique González Medina and Derrick Spiva Jr. in… Continue reading Juan Pablo Contreras and Sarah Gibson discuss their craft in LACO roundtable
USC Thornton artists featured in KUSC’s “Play On, California!”
In a daily broadcast and online feature titled “Play On, California!” Classical KUSC highlights the work California musicians and arts organizations are doing to continue sharing music and create online experiences for audiences while live concerts remain halted. The feature highlights USC Thornton’s Live! From Somewhere series, and the work of various Thornton alumni and… Continue reading USC Thornton artists featured in KUSC’s “Play On, California!”
Polina Cherezova publishes feature on Conrad Tao
USC Thornton Master’s student Polina Cherezova talked with pianist Conrad Tao ahead of his Power to the People! festival concert with the LA Phil. The feature was published on the LA Phil’s Watch & Listen home page. “Conrad Tao, the internationally acclaimed composer-pianist, lives in an imaginative cosmos of his own, where vulnerability reigns,” Cherezova wrote.… Continue reading Polina Cherezova publishes feature on Conrad Tao
Daily Trojan highlights Live! From Somewhere performance series
The Daily Trojan, USC’s student-led newspaper, recently highlighted USC Thornton’s new video series, Live! From Somewhere. The series was launched on March 16 in response to recent closures and event cancellations, and as the school’s artists have looked for ways to continue making music while social distancing. Live! From Somewhere presents homemade performances by Thornton… Continue reading Daily Trojan highlights Live! From Somewhere performance series
HOCKET announced as new Piano Spheres Core Artist
USC Thornton alumni duo HOCKET has been named the latest addition to Piano Spheres’ roster of Core Artists, the first to be added to the concert series’ roster in 26 years. Piano Spheres was founded in 1994 by pianist and former USC faculty member Leonard Stein with the goal of showcasing new music for the… Continue reading HOCKET announced as new Piano Spheres Core Artist
Thornton artists feature prominently in LACO’s recently announced 2020-21 season
The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) has announced its 2020-21 season, the “Season of the Violin,” which prominently features a number of USC Thornton artists, many of whom have enjoyed long relationships with the orchestra. Nov. 14 and 15, Keyboard Studies faculty member and LACO’S Conductor Laureate Jeffrey Kahane, who previously served for 20 years… Continue reading Thornton artists feature prominently in LACO’s recently announced 2020-21 season
Gerald Clayton named artistic director and conductor of Next Generation Jazz Orchestra
Thornton alum Gerald Clayton (BM ’07) was recently announced as the Artistic Director and conductor of the Monterey Jazz Festival’s Next Generation Jazz Orchestra for 2020-2022. The 50th annual Next Generation Jazz Festival, organized by the Monterey Jazz Festival, will take place April 3-5 and showcase over 1,300 middle and high school musicians. Clayton is… Continue reading Gerald Clayton named artistic director and conductor of Next Generation Jazz Orchestra
Thornton artists feature prominently in concert honoring women composers, performers, directors
USC Thornton artists will feature prominently in the Los Robles Master Chorale’s upcoming collaborative concert, Women Speak, highlighting the work of women composers, performers and directors. The all-women chorus VOX Femina Los Angeles will join the Los Robles Master Chorale (LRMC) for the fist half of the evening’s program. Both choruses are led by USC… Continue reading Thornton artists feature prominently in concert honoring women composers, performers, directors
Sarkis Baltaian and Derek Polischuk release album of Latin American music for piano
USC Thornton Keyboard Studies alumni Sarkis Baltaian (BM ’99, MM ’01, DMA ’07) and Derek Kealii Polischuk (BM ’01, MM ’04, DMA ’06) have released a new album titled Latin American Music for 2 Pianos. The album features Baltaian and Polischuk’s recordings of music by Carlos Guastavino, Manuel Ponce, Octávio Pinto, Astor Piazzolla, Aaron Copland,… Continue reading Sarkis Baltaian and Derek Polischuk release album of Latin American music for piano