Guitarist Xinqian Li to Perform in Disney’s “Newsies”
USC Thornton Studio Guitar program doctoral candidate Xinqian Li (MM ’24) will perform in Disney’s Newsies musical, presented by the Conundrum Theatre Company. Performances will take place on January 23, 24 and 26 at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood. Inspired by the 1899 Newsboys’ Strike in New York City, Newsies follows a charismatic… Continue reading Guitarist Xinqian Li to Perform in Disney’s “Newsies”
Guitarist Xinqian Li to perform in “Tick! Tick…Boom!” musical
Xinqian Li (MM ’24), a doctoral candidate in the USC Thornton Studio Guitar program, will perform the guitar in Jonathan Larson’s musical Tick! Tick…Boom! The musical will premiere at the Theatre Palisades on September 6 and run through October 13. First produced off Broadway in 2001, Tick! Tick…Boom! is a three-chapter pop-rock musical about facing… Continue reading Guitarist Xinqian Li to perform in “Tick! Tick…Boom!” musical
Amber Wild opened for KISS on their 2023 farewell tour
Amber Wild, a band featuring guitarist and USC Thornton alum Marshall Via (BM ’21, MS ’21) as well as current Thornton student, drummer Thomas Lowrey, opened for KISS on their 2023 “End of the Road” farewell tour, which culminated on Dec. 2 in New York City. The band formed in January 2023 and is led… Continue reading Amber Wild opened for KISS on their 2023 farewell tour
Bruce Forman releases new book of solo jazz guitar etudes
Bruce Forman, a USC Thornton Studio Guitar faculty member, released a new book titled Solo Jazz Guitar Etudes. The book, which is based on his Instagram video series First Chorus of the Day, contains 16 re-imagined transcriptions of jazz standards. It was #1 in new releases in jazz music on Amazon. Photo courtesy of bruceforman.com
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
2022-2023 Year in Review
Looking back on a remarkable year at USC Thornton.
Fall 2022 Semester in Review
Looking back on an amazing fall 2022 semester at USC Thornton.
Richard Smith releases new single co-written with alumnus Adam Hawley
USC Thornton Studio Guitar and Popular Music professor Richard Smith has released a new single called “Groove Assets” on Sept. 1. According to The Urban Music Scene, the single was produced and co-written by USC Thornton alumnus Adam Hawley (BA ‘06, MA ‘08, DMA ‘10). “Groove Assets” is their third collaboration together. “There is no… Continue reading Richard Smith releases new single co-written with alumnus Adam Hawley
Molly Miller
Since Dr. Molly Miller picked up the guitar at age seven, she’s been captivating audiences with her sophisticated and raw style. She’s one of Los Angeles’s most sought-after musicians, recording and touring with artists such as Jason Mraz, Black Eyed Peas, and Sin Bandera, at venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Royal Albert Hall, and… Continue reading Molly Miller
Popular music program students perform at BMI Pop Awards
On May 10, a group of USC Thornton Popular Music program students including Katherine Nerro, Mateo Gonzales, Aden Black, Jack Munson and Yeji Kim on vocals, Alec Romo-Nichols on drums, Romel Veal and Louie Pereira percussion, Kai Hagen on bass, Soona Lee-Tolley and Manuel Martinez on guitar and Sophie Kierszenbaum and Christopher Roberts on keyboards,… Continue reading Popular music program students perform at BMI Pop Awards