Posts Tagged ‘Strings’


In Memoriam: Donald McInnes

November 6, 2024

Donald McInnes, USC Thornton Professor Emeritus of Strings, has died at the age of 85.  McInnes thrived with a prolific career of performance, recording and teaching in the U.S. and abroad for decades, including years of instruction at the USC Thornton School of Music. McInnes performed with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra and… Continue reading In Memoriam: Donald McInnes


photo of a woman holding a cello and smiling off to the side

Cellist Annie Jacobs-Perkins to perform at Wigmore Hall

November 4, 2024

After winning the 2023 Pierre Fournier Award, cellist and USC Thornton alumna Annie Jacobs-Perkins (’18) will perform her debut recital at London’s Wigmore Hall on Nov. 26, accompanied on the piano by Dina Ivanova. To purchase tickets, click here.


Cellist Seth Parker Woods standing with their cello instrument.

Seth Parker Woods appointed Robert Mann Chair in Strings and Chamber Music at USC Thornton

August 28, 2024

Seth Parker Woods has been appointed by the USC Provost as the new holder of the Robert Mann Chair in Strings and Chamber Music at the USC Thornton School of Music. Woods has been a USC Thornton Strings faculty member since the fall of 2022. He also serves as the founder and director of the… Continue reading Seth Parker Woods appointed Robert Mann Chair in Strings and Chamber Music at USC Thornton


USC Thornton instrumentalists perform in “The Comet/Poppea”

July 8, 2024

The Comet/Poppea, a new opera by Yuval Sharon, premiered at the MOCA on June 14 and ran through June 23. The production featured USC Thornton Early Music faculty member Jason Yoshida on the theorbo, Strings doctoral student Eric Tinkerhess on the viola de gamba and alumnus Coleman Itzkoff (MM ’16) on the cello. As described… Continue reading USC Thornton instrumentalists perform in “The Comet/Poppea”


Kaitlin Miller performs on a concert stage playing the harp.

Kaitlin Miller named 2023-2025 Concert Artist of American Harp Society

March 13, 2024

Kaitlin Miller, a master’s student in the USC Thornton Strings department, was named the American Harp Society’s (AHS) 2023-2025 Concert Artist. As AHS Concert Artist, she will give performances, classes and/or workshops that benefit local harp communities. In February, she performed recitals and taught masterclasses in Atlanta, Minneapolis, Chicago and Denver, with more travels on… Continue reading Kaitlin Miller named 2023-2025 Concert Artist of American Harp Society


Conductor Jeffrey Kahane leads an orchestra.

Jeffrey Kahane named music director of San Antonio Philharmonic

February 2, 2024

USC Thornton Keyboard Studies faculty member Jeffrey Kahane has been named music director of the San Antonio Philharmonic. Kahane will begin his tenure with the Philharmonic in their 2024-2025 season while continuing to teach at Thornton. Curated by Kahane, the 2024-2025 season will showcase pieces both classical and contemporary, including the work of Thornton alumnus… Continue reading Jeffrey Kahane named music director of San Antonio Philharmonic


A photo of a college aged student holding a violin.

Master’s student Nico Valencia selected for 2023-2025 LACO Fellowship

January 19, 2024

Nico Valencia, a violist and master’s student in the USC Thornton Strings department, was selected for Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra’s 2023-2025 Fellowship program. Presented in partnership with the Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles, the program aims to diversify American orchestras and support emerging classical musicians of color. As one of four fellows, Valencia… Continue reading Master’s student Nico Valencia selected for 2023-2025 LACO Fellowship


Illustration of a figure in orange and blue robes.

Chamber music ensemble AGAVE releases new album

December 12, 2023

Grammy-nominated chamber music ensemble AGAVE, which features USC Thornton alumni Kevin Cooper (DMA ‘06) and William Skeen (MM ‘01), released the album AGAVE: In Her Hands. The recording features acclaimed soprano Michele Kennedy and works from composers Florence Price, Robert Schumann, Felix Mendelssohn, Pauline Viardot, Dora Pejacevic and Margaret Bonds. AGAVE: In Her Hands celebrates… Continue reading Chamber music ensemble AGAVE releases new album


Split screen of saxophonist and violin player performing outdoors.

Alumni perform with Ms. Lauryn Hill and Fugees in Los Angeles

November 17, 2023

On Nov. 4-5, USC Thornton Jazz Studies alumnus Jordan DeTiege (’22) and Strings alumna Karoline Menezes (MM ’15, GCRT ’17) performed in The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill 25th Anniversary Tour with Ms. Lauryn Hill and the Fugees. DeTeige played saxophone as a member of the brass ensemble, The Regiment Horns, while Menezes played violin as… Continue reading Alumni perform with Ms. Lauryn Hill and Fugees in Los Angeles


Stella Cho smiling towards the camera while holding a cello.

Stella Cho joins the Colburn School’s cello faculty

November 13, 2023

USC Thornton Cello Performance alumna Stella Cho (’12, MM ’14, DMA ’22) has joined the Colburn School as a cello instructor. She is also a cello faculty member at Loyola Marymount University. Cho regularly performs in the SAKURA Cello Quintet and the chamber ensemble Delirium Musicum. At Thornton, she studied under Gregor Piatigorsky Chair in… Continue reading Stella Cho joins the Colburn School’s cello faculty