It’s summer at USC Thornton and students and faculty alike are spread around the world, attending music festivals, performing in venues large and small, recording albums and writing new music, practicing, practicing, practicing, and so much more. Since the campus is quiet, it’s the perfect opportunity to look back and reflect on a fantastic 2018-2019 academic year. Each week throughout the summer, we’ll choose a theme and re-share stories on that theme.
Week 1: Study Abroad • Week 2: Double Majors
In cooperation with institutional partners in Europe, USC Thornton offers a wide variety of international programs for its students. Students can study for a fall or spring semester in six of Europe’s top institutions through the Thornton’s International Exchanges, travel to Paris for a Maymester, or take advantage of Thornton’s short-term study abroad opportunities.
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A View from Paris
Students from USC Thornton and USC Kaufman School of Dance are currently exploring the cultural legacy of Paris for a 26-day Maymester course (it runs through the first week of June). They’re investigating the history of the city of lights and reflecting on their own positions of as global ambassadors of music, dance, and culture. Last year, Music Industry undergraduate Sloan Pecchia was one of the students that embarked on the Maymester. She wrote about her impressions of Paris and the opportunities for artistic collaboration that were sparked by the trip. |
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A Week in Oslo
As part of Thornton’s short-term study abroad program, a group of students each year travel to Oslo for a week at the Norwegian Academy of Music to explore Norwegian folk music traditions and instruments. “[It’s] incredibly fun,” said Music Industry alum Karlee Hormell ’18, who participated in the program in 2018. “A once in a lifetime opportunity.” |
Because so many musicians have multiple interests that lead to multi-faceted careers, encouraging students to explore other fields enhances their education. This week, we celebrate USC Thornton undergrads who double major, combining their exceptional music degree with a passion for the sciences, literature or any of the hundreds of majors at USC.
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Trojan Finds Perfect Mix of Music and Math at USC
Paul Chyz ’18 loved music since he first picked up a guitar at age six and developed a knack for math and science as he got older. USC is a place where he could bring his two interests together. He majored in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at USC Viterbi School of Engineering while minoring in music recording at USC Thornton. Chyz still finds ways to explore both his passions. He now works in cloud computing at Oracle and plays in a band he started with friends from USC. |
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Day in the Life: Kate Crellin
Recent USC Thornton graduate Kate Crellin decided to attend USC because it allowed her to explore all of her interests. She studied Choral music in a conservatory-type setting while double majoring in law. “USC is the perfect place,” she said, “because I am able to study law, classical music and jazz music at a high level in the same place.” |
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Shelby Wong: The New Classical
“A huge reason I was interested in USC was the fact that you have this conservatory setting, but it’s within the university,” said Shelby Wong. “I’m just trying to explore everything.” And she’s done just that, double majoring in Piano Performance and Business Law from the Marshall School of Business. She also plays violin in the USC Thornton Symphony and performs with – and is the president of – the student-led USC Concerto Chamber Orchestra. |
Check back each week for more stories of USC Thornton.
