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    Angela Meade in costume

    Angela Meade receives glowing reviews for “Roberto Devereux” performance

    March 6, 2020

    Vocal Arts & Opera alum and highly renowned soprano Angela Meade (MM ’04) received glowing reviews for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in LA Opera’s production of “Roberto Devereux.” OperaWire praised her vocal performance and stage presence, writing: “Soprano Angela Meade offered a riveting performance as the Queen displaying the widest range of emotions… Continue reading Angela Meade receives glowing reviews for “Roberto Devereux” performance


    Vicki Ray

    Thornton artists feature prominently in concert honoring women composers, performers, directors

    February 24, 2020

    USC Thornton artists will feature prominently in the Los Robles Master Chorale’s upcoming collaborative concert, Women Speak, highlighting the work of women composers, performers and directors. The all-women chorus VOX Femina Los Angeles will join the Los Robles Master Chorale (LRMC) for the fist half of the evening’s program. Both choruses are led by USC… Continue reading Thornton artists feature prominently in concert honoring women composers, performers, directors


    Portrait of Angela Meade

    Angela Meade stars in LA Opera production of Roberto Devereux

    February 21, 2020

    Vocal Arts & Opera alum Angela Meade (MM ’04) will star as Queen Elizabeth I in LA Opera’s production of Roberto Devereux. The company premiere will run from Feb. 22 to March 14. This will be her third appearance with LA Opera, after her debut in 2012 in Don Giovanni, and her 2015 performance in… Continue reading Angela Meade stars in LA Opera production of Roberto Devereux


    Photo of Lynn Helding outdoors

    Lynn Helding releases new book bridging brain science and music performance

    February 19, 2020

    Vocal Arts and Opera faculty member Lynn Helding has recently released her new book, “The Musician’s Mind: Teaching, Learning, and Performance in the Age of Brain Science.” The book explores how musicians can optimize their mental wellbeing and cognitive abilities to maximize learning and performance. In her writing, Helding bridges the gap between various fields… Continue reading Lynn Helding releases new book bridging brain science and music performance


    Portrait of Rod Gilfry

    Rod Gilfry receives warm reviews for “Eurydice”

    February 7, 2020

    USC Thornton Vocal Arts faculty member Rod Gilfry has been met with warm reviews for his performance as Eurydice’s father in LA Opera’s “Eurydice,” a new opera composed by Matthew Aucoin with playwright Sarah Ruhl. The Los Angeles Times calls Gilfry’s performance an “exceptional accomplishment” and describes his character as “the voice from the beyond… Continue reading Rod Gilfry receives warm reviews for “Eurydice”


    Photo of Lynn Helding outdoors

    Lynn Helding receives Lifetime Achievement Award for research in vocal pedagogy

    January 24, 2020

    USC Thornton Vocal Arts and Opera faculty member Lynn Helding has been recognized as a legendary figure in the field of voice pedagogy by the Contemporary Commercial Music (CCM) Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University, and has received the 2020 CCM Institute Lifetime Achievement Award. As this year’s recipient, she will be in residence at… Continue reading Lynn Helding receives Lifetime Achievement Award for research in vocal pedagogy


    2019-2020 Scenes

    January 15, 2020

    The singer-actors of the Thornton Vocal Arts department present an exciting night of opera and musical theatre scenes. Britten, Mozart, Monteverdi, Bellini, Verdi, Bizet, Strauss, and Jones & Schmidt will be performed and accompanied by piano in Newman Recital Hall.


    La Calisto – CANCELED

    January 15, 2020

    UPDATE March 13, 2020: As part of the University’s ongoing efforts to respond to the Covid-19 virus threat all USC Thornton School of Music ensemble performances for the remainder of Spring ’20 semester have been canceled, including our planned production of La Calisto. For more information please visit Thornton’s Covid-19 updates page. For the University’s… Continue reading La Calisto – CANCELED


    Veronika Krausas

    Veronika Krausas’ “Ghost Opera” named among decade’s best operas

    January 8, 2020

    Ghost Opera, a full-length dramatic opera by Composition faculty member Veronika Krausas, was recently named among the best operas of the decade by Opera Canada. Writer Stephan Bonfield praises the production as “aesthetically the most beautiful opera I saw this past decade.” The 2019 co-production between Calgary Opera and Old Trout Puppet Workshop featured artfully… Continue reading Veronika Krausas’ “Ghost Opera” named among decade’s best operas


    Photo of Alan Smith

    Faculty and alumni come together at fourth annual CollabFest

    October 11, 2019

    USC Thornton will have a strong presence at the upcoming CollabFest conference, with many alumni and faculty attending. Alan Smith, director of Keyboard Collaborative Arts, Andrew Harley (DMA ’97), Russell Miller (BM), James Douglass (DMA ’04), ChoEun Lee (DMA, ’13) and Lisa Sylvester, Chair of Vocal Arts & Opera at Thornton, will all be participating.… Continue reading Faculty and alumni come together at fourth annual CollabFest