Jeffrey Kahane named music director of San Antonio Philharmonic
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
Master’s student Nico Valencia selected for 2023-2025 LACO Fellowship
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
Chamber music ensemble AGAVE releases new album
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
Alumni perform with Ms. Lauryn Hill and Fugees in Los Angeles
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 joins the Colburn School’s cello faculty
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
Jeffrey Kahane conducts LACO in world premiere of Nina Young’s “Violin Concerto: Traces”
Jeffrey Kahane, a USC Thornton Keyboard Studies faculty member and conductor laureate of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, will conduct the world premiere of “Violin Concerto: Traces,” composed by Thornton Composition faculty member Nina Young. The piece will be performed by violinist Jennifer Koh on Nov. 11 at the Alex Theatre and Nov. 12 at… Continue reading Jeffrey Kahane conducts LACO in world premiere of Nina Young’s “Violin Concerto: Traces”
Gregg Field featured in CBS Sunday Morning segment on Henry Mancini
USC Thornton Board of Councilors Chair Gregg Field was featured in a new CBS Sunday Morning segment on the late composer Henry Mancini. Field discussed the fame of Mancini’s film and television music, such as the ubiquitous “Pink Panther Theme” and “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s. The segment included a recording session of his… Continue reading Gregg Field featured in CBS Sunday Morning segment on Henry Mancini
Cellist Ruslan Biryukov performed at TEDxTemecula
Cellist and USC Thornton non-degreed alumnus Ruslan Biryukov performed at TEDxTemecula, an annual conference showcasing thinkers, visionaries and performers. The conference took place at Old Town Temecula Community Theater on September 30. Biryukov is the principal cellist and artist-in-residence at the Temecula Valley Symphony. He is the founder of the Glendale Philharmonic Orchestra and Los… Continue reading Cellist Ruslan Biryukov performed at TEDxTemecula
Sharon Lavery and Veronika Krausas featured in Daily Trojan
On Sept. 11, the Daily Trojan reviewed the USC Thornton Symphony’s opening concert of the fall semester. The article featured interviews with resident conductor and Winds & Percussion chair Sharon Lavery, and Composition faculty member Veronika Krausas. Lavery spoke about the significance of each piece in the repertoire, such as “Caryatids,” which was composed by… Continue reading Sharon Lavery and Veronika Krausas featured in Daily Trojan
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