Thornton faculty and alumni record 25th anniversary album for Chandra X-ray Observatory
USC Thornton faculty and alumni participated in a recording at Sony Pictures for the upcoming album Chandra-X: Into Darkness, a musical celebration marking 25 years of space exploration and research through the lens of the Chandra X-ray Observatory. Produced by Thornton faculty member Christian Amonson, the project will feature a 95-piece orchestra comprised of several… Continue reading Thornton faculty and alumni record 25th anniversary album for Chandra X-ray Observatory
Chanda Dancy to score Zoë Kravitz’s film “Blink Twice”
USC Thornton Screen Scoring program graduate Chanda Dancy (GRCT ‘04) will compose the score for Zoë Kravitz’s film Blink Twice, coming to theaters on August 23. Starring Channing Tatum, the psychological thriller follows a tech billionaire who invites a woman to his private island for a dream vacation, when strange things occur. Dancy is an… Continue reading Chanda Dancy to score Zoë Kravitz’s film “Blink Twice”
Kevin Lax and Robert Lydecker co-composed score for “Orion and the Dark”
USC Thornton Screen Scoring alumni Kevin Lax (‘08, GCRT ‘09) and Robert Lydecker (‘08, GCRT ‘09) composed the score to the DreamWorks animated film, Orion and the Dark. Streaming on Netflix, the film is based on a children’s book about a boy who faces his fears for the first time with the help of a… Continue reading Kevin Lax and Robert Lydecker co-composed score for “Orion and the Dark”
Jongnic Bontemps wins Outstanding Original Score at 55th NAACP Image Awards
At the 55th NAACP Image Awards, Jongnic Bontemps (GCRT ‘12) won Outstanding Original Score for TV/Motion Picture for the film, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts. The awards ceremony was held on March 16 at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. The annual NAACP Image Awards celebrate the achievements and performances of people of color in… Continue reading Jongnic Bontemps wins Outstanding Original Score at 55th NAACP Image Awards
USC Thornton celebrates 2024 Oscar winners
USC Thornton composers were celebrated at the 96th Academy Awards, held on Sunday, March 10 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) won his second Oscar for Best Original Score for Oppenheimer, the year’s most-nominated film. He took home his first Oscar in 2019 for Black Panther. Composition alumna Katya Richardson… Continue reading USC Thornton celebrates 2024 Oscar winners
Alumni nominated for 2024 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards
On February 21, several USC Thornton alumni received nominations in the 2024 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards. Raashi Kulkarni (GCRT ’16, MM ’18) was nominated for Film Score of the Year with World’s Best. Katya Richardson (’19) was nominated for Documentary Score of the Year with The Last Repair Shop. Bear McCreary (’02), “God of War:… Continue reading Alumni nominated for 2024 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards
Ludwig Göransson wins 2024 BAFTA Award for “Oppenheimer” score
Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) won a 2024 BAFTA Award in the Best Original Score category for his soundtrack to Oppenheimer, marking the composer’s first BAFTA Award. The awards ceremony was held on Feb. 18 at The Royal Festival Hall in London. Oppenheimer led with wins in seven categories.
Alumni win at 2024 Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards
USC Thornton alumni have won in several categories of the fifth annual Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards, which were held on February 13 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) won Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film with his score for Oppenheimer. Carlos Rafael Rivera (MM ‘04, DMA… Continue reading Alumni win at 2024 Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards
Bear McCreary composes score for Disney+ series, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”
USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Bear McCreary (’02) composed the score for the Disney+ television series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which premiered on Dec. 20. The series follows the demigod Percy Jackson when he must embark on a dangerous quest to return Zeus’ master bolt. The first season of Percy Jackson and the Olympians… Continue reading Bear McCreary composes score for Disney+ series, “Percy Jackson and the Olympians”
Ludwig Göransson earns Academy Award nomination while USC Thornton alumni and faculty are featured in nominated films
Alumni and faculty from across the music departments and programs of USC Thornton were well represented in the 2024 Oscar nominations, announced on January 23. Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) earned his third nomination in the Best Original Score category for Oppenheimer while composition alum Katya Richardson (’19) composed the score to Best Documentary Short nominee The Last Repair… Continue reading Ludwig Göransson earns Academy Award nomination while USC Thornton alumni and faculty are featured in nominated films