Posts Tagged ‘Strings’


Photo of Justus Ross seated outdoors

Justus Ross performs as part of concert celebrating Black creativity

February 10, 2022

USC Thornton strings alumnus Justus Ross is performing at Castle of our Skins’ inaugural Inter-Collegiate Black Student Union Fellowship concert, What is Black Creativity?, on Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. This performance is the capstone event of a five-month program in which Black students from the Longy School of Music, the New England Conservatory and… Continue reading Justus Ross performs as part of concert celebrating Black creativity


Photo of Christmas lights in the distance

Thornton musicians bring holiday cheer to concerts across L.A. area

December 15, 2021

Thornton faculty, alumni and students are bringing the holiday cheer to Los Angeles County this month and next through a multitude of holiday concerts. The USC Thornton Department of Choral and Sacred Music presents its annual Winter Gala, a special livestreamed event, Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. The New Hollywood String Quartet, featuring Thornton Strings… Continue reading Thornton musicians bring holiday cheer to concerts across L.A. area


Erika Poh scores string arrangment for K-pop singer CL

November 23, 2021

Sophomore Thornton composition student Erika Poh scored a string arrangement for K-Pop singer CL’s song “Siren,” which is featured on her newest album, Alpha. Poh co-arranged the piece with Josh Wei at Snakewood Studios in Singapore, and the score was performed by a quartet of Singapore Symphony Orchestra players. Alpha was released on October 20… Continue reading Erika Poh scores string arrangment for K-pop singer CL


Album cover for Agave Baroque

Agave Baroque collaborates on “American Originals: A New World, A New Canon”

November 2, 2021

Agave Baroque, a string chamber music group featuring Thornton alumni Kevin Cooper (DMA ‘06) and William Skeen (MM ‘01), collaborated with countertenor Reginald Mobley on a new album. American Originals: A New World, A New Canon celebrates the overlooked works of American composers of color in an effort to rectify the racial imbalance that has… Continue reading Agave Baroque collaborates on “American Originals: A New World, A New Canon”


Photo of two violinists posing outside their VW bus

Two alums celebrate one year on the road with win from San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Award for streaming documentary series

September 12, 2021

Over the past 12 months, USC Thornton alumni and violinists Etienne Gara (GCRT ’13) and YuEun Kim (GCRT ’15, AD ’17) have traveled from the Mexican border to Canada in “Boris,” the 1971 Volkswagen bus, to bring “music and human bonding at safe distances” to non-traditional venues like organic farms and wineries. The two founding… Continue reading Two alums celebrate one year on the road with win from San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Award for streaming documentary series


Photo of Juliette Herlin

Juliette Herlin named to cello faculty at Texas Christian University

September 1, 2021

This fall, alum Juliette Herlin (DMA ’20) was named a visiting lecturer in cello at the Texas Christian University College of Fine Arts in Fort Worth.


Photo of Ethan Chilton

Ethan Chilton releases first full-length album, “The Planets”

August 20, 2021

Ethan Chilton (’20), a Jazz Studies alum and current Master’s student, released his first full-length album, “The Planets.”


Portrait of Etienne Gara holding a violin

Etienne Gara named Soraya’s next Artist in Residence

June 1, 2021

Violinist and USC Thornton alum Etienne Gara has been named Soraya’s next Artist in Residence. To kick off the two-year residency, The Soraya will present MusiKaravan, a series of short films to begin airing on May 6th, that follow Gara and fellow Delirium Musicum member YuEun Kim (GCRT ‘15, AD ‘17) on a pandemic road trip across California as they safely spread music and joy. One new episode will be released every Thursday throughout the summer on The Soraya’s and MusiKaravan’s social media channels.


Veronika Krausas

Detroit Symphony Orchestra to present world premiere by Veronika Krausas

May 7, 2021

On Saturday, May. 8, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra will present the world premiere of Caryatids by Veronika Krausas. The professor of Composition’s new work won the DSO’s tenth annual Elaine Lebenbom Memorial Award for Female Composers. The concert also includes the Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto featuring Midori, Judge Widney Professor of Music at USC. The digital… Continue reading Detroit Symphony Orchestra to present world premiere by Veronika Krausas


Violinists Etienne Gara and YuEun Kim featured on Volkwagen website

April 27, 2021

USC Thornton alumni Etienne Gara and YuEun Kim (GCRT ‘15, AD ‘17) have been featured on the Volkswagen website for their project, MusiKaravan. Over the last year, the two violinists have been traveling to farms and wineries in a restored 1971 red Volkswagen Westfalia, bringing music outdoors to essential workers. “We don’t always call in… Continue reading Violinists Etienne Gara and YuEun Kim featured on Volkwagen website