Evan Calbi
Stories by Evan Calbi:
Popular Music students prep for Troubadour concert
The inaugural class of the USC Thornton School of Music’s Popular Music program matriculated four years ago with high expectations.
USC pianist reflects on his past with Van Cliburn
In 1958, six months after the Soviet Union had launched its first Sputnik satellite, Van Cliburn traveled to Moscow for the first International Tchaikovsky Competition.
Passing on the musical torch
The Bob Mintzer Big Band on Nov. 30 will celebrate Count Basie, one of the most influential bandleaders in jazz history. Erik Hughes, a senior at USC Thornton, is set to play in the trombone section that night.
Music luminaries to join USC Thornton
Violinist Glenn Dicterow, concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic, will join the USC Thorton School of Music faculty in fall 2014.
USC Thornton percussionist makes a sound decision
While the Los Angeles Philharmonic is accustomed to premiering new works from noted composers, it is rare for the music to come from within the orchestra.
Hunger Games soundtrack spotlights USC Thornton musicians
The Hunger Games, the record-setting blockbuster based on the bestselling young adult series, includes a celebrated soundtrack of artists Neko Case, Taylor Swift and The Decemberists.
USC Thornton partnership in the spotlight
The USC Thornton School of Music and the Spotlight program of the Music Center of the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County announced a new partnership to support young musicians and advance the cause of music education in Southern California.
USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra Relives Big Band Era
In late September, the USC Thornton Jazz Orchestra (TJO) traveled north to play the famed Monterey Jazz Festival, the annual Central California event that debuted in 1958.
Larry Livingston Celebrates 25 Years at USC Thornton
Larry Livingston, chair of the USC Thornton School of Music’s instrumental conducting department and music director of the USC Thornton orchestras, will celebrate his 25th year at the school on Oct. 13 with a concert at Bovard Auditorium featuring the USC Thornton Symphony.
USC Thornton gets $4 million gift from Westerbeck Estate
The USC Thornton School of Music, one of the oldest music schools in the country, recently announced a gift of $4 million from the estate of alumna Adrienne Westerbeck ’34, MS ’43 and her husband, Robert.
USC Thornton Student Advances on The Voice
USC Thornton School of Music sophomore Lily Elise is making her mark on NBC’s The Voice.
USC Thornton Alum Wins Met Audition
Kyung-Teak “Joseph” Lim ’10 was one of five winners of the New York Metropolitan Opera’s 2011 National Council Auditions at the Grand Finals Concert on March 13.
Grases Debuts With USC Thornton Concert Choir
Venezuela is a fertile if unexpected ground for classical music. The emergence of Gustavo Dudamel at the helm of the Los Angeles Philharmonic has brought worldwide attention to the country’s superb music education programs.
Pulling Out All the Stops
On Thursday, the USC Thornton School of Music will present the first of several performances celebrating the inauguration of President C. L. Max Nikias.
Peter Boyer’s New Work Premieres in Boston
Celebrated composer and USC Thornton School of Music alumnus Peter Boyer ’96 will premiere his new work, “The Dream Lives On: A Portrait of the Kennedy Brothers,” celebrating the legacy of John, Robert and Ted Kennedy, in Boston’s Symphony Hall.
A Grand Performance in Beijing
While memories of the Beijing Olympics linger, there are tangible reminders in China’s capital of the historic games.
Playing the Oscars
With two hosts, twice the normal number of nominations for best picture, and even a Las Vegas-style musical number, the 82nd annual Academy Awards was a high-wattage ceremony – and as with years past, music underscored the spectacle.
Tilson Thomas Wins National Medal of Arts
Michael Tilson Thomas ’67, MM ’76, one of the world’s leading conductors and an esteemed alumnus of the USC Thornton School of Music, has been awarded the National Medal of Arts, the nation’s highest award for artistic achievement.
Pop Goes the Music Program
When the inaugural class of the USC Thornton School of Music’s popular music program began last fall, Luke Walton was among the most visible of the 25 select students from across the nation. A singer-songwriter from San Diego, Walton documented his acceptance to the school in his widely viewed YouTube series “Six Months to Make It.”
Music in Two Places at Once
While music education has long been built on the personal relationship between teacher and student, new technology is allowing lessons to grow beyond the face time necessary in the past.
Michael Tilson Thomas Wins Three Grammys
Michael Tilson Thomas ’67, MM ’76, one of the world’s leading conductors and an esteemed alumnus of the USC Thornton School of Music, won three awards at the 52nd annual Grammy Awards on Jan. 31.
In Memoriam: Meg Seno Wemple, 79
Meg Seno Wemple, an alumna and lifelong supporter of USC, died Dec. 31. She was 79.
USC Thornton Pulls All the Right Strings
The presence of Ralph Kirshbaum, Hagai Shaham and Midori signals an exciting new era for the music school’s renowned program.
USC Thornton Pulls the Right Strings
The presence of Ralph Kirshbaum, Midori and Hagai Shaham signals a new era for the music school’s renowned program.