USC Thornton alumni, faculty take home GRAMMY Awards
In all, USC Thornton faculty and alumni received a total of seven nominations for this year's awards ceremony.
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Three USC Thornton representatives were winners at last Sunday’s 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards, further distinguishing USC Thornton as one of the premiere music institutions in the world. In all, faculty and alumni received a total of seven nominations for this year’s awards ceremony.
Midori — a USC Distinguished Professor, Jascha Heifetz Chair in Violin and USC Thornton Strings Department Chair — was the featured soloist on “Best Classical Compendium” winner Hindemith: Violinkonzert; Symphonic Metamorphosis; Konzertmusik (conducted by Christoph Eschenbach).
“I am delighted that Christoph Eschenbach and the NDR Symphony Orchestra invited me to play Hindemith’s Violin Concerto as part of their CD tribute to Paul Hindemith,” Midori said after the win. “Hindemith is one of the musicians I respect and admire the most. I hope our recording brings more awareness and appreciation of this great artist.”
Alumnus Herb Alpert received his ninth GRAMMY, this time in the “Best Pop Instrumental Album” category for his album, Steppin’ Out. Alpert’s musical accomplishments include five number one albums and 28 albums total on the Billboard charts, nine GRAMMY awards, 14 platinum-selling albums and 15 gold albums.
USC Thornton Board of Councilors member and five-time GRAMMY Award-winner Thomas Newman, who also studied at USC, won the “Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media” category for his work as composer of the James Bond film Skyfall. Newman has made a name for himself throughout his career with his powerful blend of orchestra and instinctive elements of jazz, popular and classical music for both film and television compositions.
