Zelter Quartet wins Gold Prize at Chesapeake Chamber Music Competition
The Zelter Quartet has won the Gold Prize at the 2021 Chesapeake International Chamber Music Competition. The annual competition in Easton, Maryland was held virtually this year. The Los Angeles-based quartet includes violist Nao Kubota (MM ’19), a Graduate Certificate student; cellist Allan Hon, a Doctoral student; and violinists Kyle Gilner (BM’16) and Gallia Kastner.
Alumni featured in Los Angeles Times about pandemic loss and hope
Three USC Thornton alumni were recently featured in a Los Angeles Times article on classical musicians’ stories of pandemic loss and hope. Alexander Blake (DMA ‘19), Melissa Tong (BM ‘00), and Jonathan Karoly (BM ‘97) shared their stories of overcoming struggles during the pandemic and embracing new opportunities. “This time has confirmed that I’m a… Continue reading Alumni featured in Los Angeles Times about pandemic loss and hope
New Opera West releases animated opera short
New Opera West, a nonprofit opera company co-founded by Vocal Arts doctoral student Emily Thebaut and Composition faculty member Mark Weiser, recently released “Pepito.” The animated dog opera written by Nicolas Lell Benavides, a doctoral student in the Composition program, is currently streaming on Vimeo. The work was animated by Esperanza Guevara, Connor Jacobs, and… Continue reading New Opera West releases animated opera short
Michael Tilson Thomas and Los Angeles Philharmonic win at 2021 GRAMMY Awards
The 63rd annual GRAMMY Awards, held virtually on Sunday, March 14, brought wins for faculty and alumni at USC Thornton. Celebrated conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, a Thornton alum and Judge Widney Professor at USC, won for Best Orchestral Performance for the San Francisco Symphony’s “Copland: Symphony No. 3.” And the many alumni and faculty who… Continue reading Michael Tilson Thomas and Los Angeles Philharmonic win at 2021 GRAMMY Awards
Musical Theatre students and Sound Off! Music for Bail present events this weekend
This weekend, Musical Theatre students present a student-produced film that explores the legacy of enslavement, while graduate certificate student and Los Angeles Orchestra Fellow Jay Julio Laureta’s ensemble, Sound Off! Music for Bail, presents a virtual concert and fundraiser for a national bail fund. On Friday, Feb. 26 at 5:00 pm (PST), students in USC’s… Continue reading Musical Theatre students and Sound Off! Music for Bail present events this weekend
Midori named a Kennedy Center Honoree for 2021
Celebrated violinist Midori, who served on the USC Thornton faculty for 14 years until 2018 and is currently a Judge Widney Professor of Music at USC, was named a Kennedy Center Honoree for 2021. This year’s award, which celebrates a lifetime of artistic achievement, also includes Debbie Allen, Joan Baez, Garth Brooks, and Dick Van… Continue reading Midori named a Kennedy Center Honoree for 2021
Judith Farmer releases new album of chamber music for bassoon
Winds & Percussion faculty member Judith Farmer has released a new album of chamber music for bassoon, Judith Farmer Plays Favorites. The album includes performances by Strings faculty member Andrew Shulman and alum Vicki Ray (DMA ’88), as well as a recording of a piece by alum composer Gernot Wolfgang (GCRT ’94). The album is… Continue reading Judith Farmer releases new album of chamber music for bassoon
Gabriel Martins wins 2020 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition
Cellist Gabriel Martins (BM ’19), an alum of USC Thornton’s Strings program, has earned another notable award, marking his third major prize in what has been a momentous year for the decorated artist. Martins has been announced as one of two Grand Prize winners in the 2020 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition. The prize… Continue reading Gabriel Martins wins 2020 Concert Artists Guild Victor Elmaleh Competition
USC Thornton alumni launch MusiKaravan mobile concerts
USC Thornton alumni Etienne Gara and YuEun Kim (GCRT ‘15, AD ‘17), members of the celebrated chamber ensemble Delirium Musicum, have launched a unique mobile, outdoor concert series called MusiKaravan. While Delirium Musicum’s live concerts remain on hold, the two have traveled around California by car to perform safely outdoors for workers at farms and… Continue reading USC Thornton alumni launch MusiKaravan mobile concerts
Thornton artists awarded San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards
Multiple USC Thornton artists and alumni-founded ensembles were awarded San Francisco Classical Voice’s Audience Choice Awards for the 2019-2020 season. This year was the first-ever Audience Choice Awards with a category dedicated to celebrating the vibrant classical music scene in Los Angeles. HOCKET, the piano duo of alumni Sarah Gibson (MM ‘10, DMA ‘15) and… Continue reading Thornton artists awarded San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards