Amplifying diverse voices in USC music classes
The Voices Fund has helped bring celebrated artists like jazz musician Roscoe Mitchell and mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges to speak in USC Thornton classrooms.
USC Thornton School of Music recognizes outstanding graduates
The five students’ stories touch on diverse opportunities, life-changing faculty and creative collaborations, and look confidently toward a future in music.
Designing their lives as artists: A new look at arts leadership
USC grad students — innovators and entrepreneurs innovators and entrepreneurs — are redifining how we think about and practice arts leadership in the 21st century.
USC musician brings his violin to essential workers during the pandemic
Etienne Gara, artist-in-residence at USC Dornsife’s Brain and Creativity Institute, has been staging outdoor classical music concerts for field workers all across California.
Digital recording uses today’s tech to bring music students together
Lecturer Jason Yoshida shares his expertise in a special USC Thornton class that helps students learn essential skills in a rapidly evolving music world.
Celebrated female artists remind USC music students to defy expectations
In a series of virtual master classes, guitarists Molly Miller and Ari O’Neal and USC Thornton’s Patrice Rushen shared how they’ve succeeded in a male-dominated industry.
USC Thornton names first recipient of Victor McElhaney Memorial Jazz Drumming Endowed Scholarship
Dominic Anzalone, a student in USC Thornton’s Popular Music Program, has a background in jazz drumming and shares McElhaney’s belief that music can be a tool for social activism.
5 songs from USC student musicians shine in quarantine competition
The Quarantunes Student Music Competition gave USC Thornton students a fresh opportunity to get creative during the pandemic.
New endowed scholarship honors late jazz student Victor McElhaney
The Victor McElhaney Memorial Jazz Drumming Endowed Scholarship will provide scholarship support each year for an undergraduate drummer who reflects the spirit and ideals McElhaney represented.
Through a Bill Withers tribute video, USC music professors spotlight how to perform remotely
Faculty in the Popular Music Program collaborated virtually on a musical eulogy aimed at lifting up their students — and themselves.
USC music professors learn how to teach from a distance
Faculty at the USC Thornton School of Music are rethinking their curriculum to maximize opportunities for musicians practicing social distancing.
Repairing instruments keeps USC Thornton alums around the music they love
Though instrument repair isn’t always lucrative work, it can be a satisfying way to make a living beyond the symphony hall. Meet some Trojans who have done just that.
Trojans well-represented among nominees, winners at Grammy Awards
Sunday’s ceremony brought two first-time wins for USC Thornton Composition faculty member Andrew Norman and alumna Nadia Shpachenko.
Loyal KUSC listener leaves $8 million to USC Thornton and the station
Edward Judd Zobelein, a lifetime lover of classical music, has left gifts of $6 million to the USC Thornton School and $2 million to KUSC.
USC Thornton organist/composer gets special moment in the spotlight — and shines
Thanks to the generosity of a world-famous organist, grad student Thomas Mellan recently took the stage at Walt Disney Concert Hall for an experience he’ll never forget.
Alice Schoenfeld, renowned violinist and longtime faculty member, 98
USC mourns the noted teacher and generous philanthropist, who died May 25. Schoenfeld taught countless students and underwrote music scholarships and renovation of the school’s orchestral rehearsal hall.
For this USC Thornton graduate, the music business is all about family
After years on the road with artists like Michael Bublé, Rob Perkins started a curated music programming business called On the Beat that is fueled by fellow USC Thornton grads, faculty and even current students.
Partnership works at preventing surprisingly common musicians’ injuries
With help from USC music and occupational therapy faculty, talented Trojans learn how to avoid repetitive-movement injuries.
USC Thornton artists nominated in eight Grammy Award categories
Nominations go to renowned alums like Michael Tilson Thomas and faculty members such as Jazz Studies teacher Vince Mendoza.
5 New Master’s Programs Keep Students in Sync with the Music Industry
From the business of live music to screen scoring, USC Thornton finds niches for music students.
In memoriam: Daniel Lewis, 92, longtime leader of the USC Thornton Symphony
The emeritus professor was the first member of the USC Thornton faculty to be named a University Professor.
USC Thornton announces five new master’s degree programs
The school is adding the programs to stay ahead of major changes in the music industry, dean says.
USC Thornton grads win the game of musical chairs with worldwide orchestras
Beating the odds, Trojans grab full-time posts with celebrated symphonies.
USC Thornton unveils the Songwriter’s Theater — a new venue dedicated to ‘words, music and creation’
The room is the physical embodiment of the idea that all elements of the contemporary music business start with the critical action of writing a song.