Composer and cellist Quenton Blache to make Carnegie Hall debut
USC Thornton Composition and Cello Performance alum Quenton Blache (‘23) will make his Carnegie Hall debut with the chamber orchestra Sphinx Virtuosi. The concert takes place on on October 20 at 7 p.m. in Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage. The program will open with Blache’s New York premiere of Habari Gani, named after the Swahili… Continue reading Composer and cellist Quenton Blache to make Carnegie Hall debut
Trojan Family Magazine spotlights video game scoring at USC Thornton
Trojan Family Magazine spotlighted video game scoring at USC Thornton in their Summer 2023 issue, featuring interviews with Screen Scoring program alumna Lauren Kott (MM ’23), and faculty members Jeanine Cowen and Garry Schyman. They explored how Thornton’s Screen Scoring program has contributed to the growth of the video game industry, which is now valued… Continue reading Trojan Family Magazine spotlights video game scoring at USC Thornton
Ludwig Göransson composes score for Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer”
USC Thornton Screen Scoring program alumnus Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) composed the score for Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, which premiered in theaters on July 21. The film marks Göransson’s second collaboration with Nolan—the first being his soundtrack to Tenet. According to Variety, Göransson recorded the music for Oppenheimer in just five days. His team of musicians included Thornton Composition program… Continue reading Ludwig Göransson composes score for Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer”
Raashi Kulkarni and Jongnic Bontemps co-composed score for Disney+’s “World’s Best”
USC Thornton Screen Scoring program alumni Raashi Kulkarni (MM ’18, GCRT ’16) and Jongnic Bontemps (GCRT ‘12) co-composed the original score for Disney+’s new hip-hop musical World’s Best, which premiered on June 23. Kulkarni, the first South Asian woman to score a Disney film, partnered with Bontemps to create a score that blends Western orchestral… Continue reading Raashi Kulkarni and Jongnic Bontemps co-composed score for Disney+’s “World’s Best”
Composer Peter Boyer commissioned to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III
Composer and USC Thornton Screen Scoring program alumnus Peter Boyer (GCRT ’96) was commissioned to create a new work for the Coronation of King Charles III. Boyer’s new work, titled Today We Ask, was presented on May 3 as part of a Coronation Celebration at St. Paul’s Church, Covent Garden in London. The commission comes… Continue reading Composer Peter Boyer commissioned to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III
Composition alumni nominated for 2023 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards
USC Thornton composition program alumni Michael Abels (‘84) and Bear McCreary (‘02) have been nominated for the 2023 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards. Abels was nominated for Film Score of the Year with Nope. McCreary was nominated for Television Score of the Year with season one of The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power… Continue reading Composition alumni nominated for 2023 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards
Thornton alumni win at African American Film Critics Association Awards
Two USC Thornton alumni have received awards at the 14th Annual African American Film Critics Association Awards (AAFCA), which honors outstanding achievement in film. Screen Scoring alum Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ‘08) won Best Song for “Life Me Up” from the film, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. Composition alum Michael Abels (BM ‘84) has been named a… Continue reading Thornton alumni win at African American Film Critics Association Awards
Alumni garner nominations for 2023 Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards
Three USC Thornton alumni have been nominated for the 4th Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards. Composition alum Michael Abels (BM ‘84) was nominated for Outstanding Score for a Studio Film with Nope. Composition alum Bear McCreary (BM ‘02) was nominated for Outstanding Score for a Television Production with The Lord of the Rings: Rings… Continue reading Alumni garner nominations for 2023 Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards
Amy Andersson
Amy Andersson is an internationally recognized, Grammy-winning conductor and producer. Named by British music critic Norman Lebrecht as “America’s most-watched symphony orchestra conductor,” Andersson has been praised for her dynamic musicality, expressive technique and cross genre repertoire. She has toured to over 22 countries conducting concerts and recording sessions in symphonic, operatic, film, musical theater… Continue reading Amy Andersson
Chanda Dancy composed score for “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody”
USC Thornton Screen Scoring program alumna Chanda Dancy (GRCT ‘04) composed the score for the film Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody, released on Dec. 23, 2022. The film is a biopic of legendary pop vocalist Whitney Houston. In an interview, Dancy spoke about collaborating with the film’s director, Kasi Lemmons, and creating a… Continue reading Chanda Dancy composed score for “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody”