USC Thornton Alumni

USC Thornton and Viola player Laura Jesson (MM '14) was accepted into the 2024 International Pride Orchestra (IPO) and will perform with IPO in New York City in June.

USC Thornton Popular Music program alumna Eliza Petrosyan (‘22) performed as a guitarist in Chappell Roan’s band for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, published on March 21. Petrosyan will also play in Chappell Roan’s band when opening for Olivia Rodrigo on the Guts World Tour. Petrosyan has previously played with artists Tora-i, WizTheMC and Anna Duboc.

https://music.usc.edu/eliza-petrosyan-tiny-desk-concert-chappell-roan/
https://www.npr.org/2024/03/21/1238815351/tiny-desk-concert-chappell-roan
https://www.instagram.com/p/C3vtx7SSDeu/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D&img_index=1
https://music.usc.edu/eliza-petrosyan-on-tour-tora-i/

Eliza Petrosyan performs with Chappell Roan on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert USC Thornton Popular Music program alumna Eliza Petrosyan (‘22) performed as a guitarist in Chappell Roan’s band for NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert, published on March 21st.

USC Thornton composition program faculty member Nicolás Lell Benavides(DMA ’22) has been named a 2024 Guggenheim Fellow. Established in 1925, the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation awards monetary prizes to 188 fellows across 52 scholarly disciplines and artistic fields. Benavides was selected to join this year’s cohort from a pool of almost 3,000 applicants. The Guggenheim Fellowship will enable him to complete numerous creative projects, including his opera Dolores which is scheduled for a rolling premiere in 2025.

https://music.usc.edu/nicolas-lell-benavides-2024-guggenheim-fellow/
https://music.usc.edu/nicolas-lell-benavides/
https://www.gf.org/announcements/
https://today.usc.edu/2-usc-faculty-members-named-2024-guggenheim-fellows/

Composer Nicolás Lell Benavides named 2024 Guggenheim Fellow - USC Thornton School of Music USC Thornton Composition program faculty member Nicolás Lell Benavides (DMA '22) has been named a 2024 Guggenheim Fellow.

USC Thornton alumnus Andrew Harrison will make his performing debut with the Santa Rosa Symphony for the 2024-2025 season, directed by Francesco Lecce-Chong. Titled “Rach & the Hollywood Sound,” the concert takes place on January 11-13, 2025 at Green Music Center. Harrison is a lecturer of Classical Saxophone at Sonoma State University. He is also a member of the critically acclaimed Duo HaLo with Thornton alumnus Jason Lo (MM ‘12, DMA ‘16).

https://music.usc.edu/andrew-harrison-santa-rosa-symphony-2024/
https://www.andrewsharrison.com/
https://www.srsymphony.org/EventDetail/293
https://music.sonoma.edu/faculty-staff/dr-andrew-harrison

Saxophonist Andrew Harrison to debut with Santa Rosa Symphony for 2024-25 season Saxophonist and USC Thornton alumnus Andrew Harrison (DMA ‘15) will make his performing debut with the Santa Rosa Symphony for the 2024-2025 season.

At the 55th NAACP Image Awards, Jongnic Bontemps (GCRT ‘12) won Outstanding Original Score for TV/Motion Picture for the film, Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.

https://music.usc.edu/jongnic-bontemps-naacp-image-awards/
https://naacpimageawards.net/winners/

Jongnic Bontemps wins Outstanding Original Score at 55th NAACP Image Awards At the 55th NAACP Image Awards, Jongnic Bontemps (GCRT ‘12) won Outstanding Original Score for TV/Motion Picture for the film, "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts."

USC Thornton’s Choral & Sacred Music program was well represented at the Western American Choral Directors Association conference that took place on March 6-9 in Pasadena.

https://music.usc.edu/western-adca-conference-2024/
https://acdawestern.org/2024-wacda-pasadena/
https://music.usc.edu/emily-sung/

Choral students, faculty and alumni attend Western ACDA conference USC Thornton's Choral & Sacred Music program was well represented at the Western ACDA conference that took place on March 6-9 in Pasadena.

USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Austin Wintory (‘07) conducted a live instrumental performance at the 2024 Game Developers Conference on March 20 in San Francisco.

https://music.usc.edu/austin-wintory-2024-game-developers-conference/
https://schedule.gdconf.com/session/gdc-main-stage-a-developers-concert/903507

Austin Wintory conducts 2024 Game Developers Conference performance in San Francisco USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Austin Wintory (‘07) conducted a live instrumental performance at the 2024 Game Developers Conference on March 20 in San Francisco.

Jane Davidson (‘14), a USC Thornton Music Industry program alumna and faculty member, was featured in a KCAL 9 News segment about The Eagles’ “Hotel California” lyrics trial. Ownership over the song’s lyrics has been in question for several years. In February, three men were charged with conspiring to own and sell manuscripts of “Hotel California” and other Eagles hits.

https://music.usc.edu/jane-davidson-hotel-california-trial-2024/
https://www.vulture.com/article/eagles-hotel-california-lyrics-trial-explained.html

Jane Davidson offers legal insight into "Hotel California" trial - USC Thornton School of Music Jane Davidson (‘14), a USC Thornton Music Industry program alumna and faculty member, was featured in a KCAL 9 News segment about The Eagles' “Hotel California” lyrics trial.

Kaitlin Miller, Thornton alum and current master’s student in the Strings department, was named the American Harp Society’s (AHS) 2023-2025 Concert Artist. As AHS Concert Artist, she will give performances, classes and/or workshops that benefit local harp communities.

Kaitlin Miller named 2023-2025 Concert Artist of American Harp Society Kaitlin Miller, a master's student in the USC Thornton Strings department, was named the American Harp Society's 2023-2025 Concert Artist.

Noreen Green (DMA ‘91), a USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music alumna, conducted the premiere of a chamber version of Shony Alex Braun’s “Symphony of the Holocaust” at the Palm Springs Jewish Film Festival on March 11.

Noreen Green conducts "Symphony of the Holocaust" at Palm Springs Jewish Film Festival Noreen Green (DMA ‘91), a USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music alumna, conducted the premiere of a chamber version of Shony Alex Braun's “Symphony of the Holocaust" at the Palm Springs Jewish Film Festival on March 11.

USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Thomas Goedecke (‘13) has joined the University of Hawai’i Maui College as a faculty member in their Institute of Hawaiian Music.

https://music.usc.edu/thomas-goedecke-university-of-hawaii/
https://thomasgoedecke.com/
https://www.maui.hawaii.edu/ihm/
https://music.usc.edu/veronika-krausas/

Thomas Goedecke joins University of Hawai'i Maui College music faculty USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Thomas Goedecke (‘13) has joined the University of Hawai’i Maui College as a faculty member in their Institute of Hawaiian Music.

Jazz Studies alumnus Paul Cornish (‘18) performed as the pianist in Joshua Redman’s band for a Tiny Desk Concert released on Feb. 2. The band played selections from Redman’s latest album, “Where Are We.”

https://www.npr.org/2024/02/02/1228083815/tiny-desk-concert-joshua-redman
https://music.usc.edu/npr-tiny-desk-concert-february-2024/

Joshua Redman: Tiny Desk Concert Joshua Redman illustrates why he is one of today's best saxophonists.

"USC Thornton composers were celebrated at the 96th Academy Awards, held on Sunday, March 10 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood. Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) won his second Oscar for Best Original Score for “Oppenheimer,” the year’s most-nominated film.

Composition alumna Katya Richardson (’19) composed the score for the Best Documentary Short Film winner, The Last Repair Shop, which focuses on four professionals who service musical instruments for Los Angeles Unified School District students."

https://music.usc.edu/usc-thornton-2024-oscar-winners/
https://aframe.oscars.org/news/post/96th-oscars-full-winners-list-2024

USC Thornton celebrates 2024 Oscar winners - USC Thornton School of Music USC Thornton composers were celebrated at the 96th Academy Awards, held on Sunday, March 10 at the Dolby Theatre at Ovation Hollywood.

On February 21, several USC Thornton alumni received nominations in the 2024 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards. Raashi Kulkarni (GCRT ’16, MM ’18) was nominated for Film Score of the Year with World’s Best. Katya Richardson (’19) was nominated for Documentary Score of the Year with The Last Repair Shop. Bear McCreary (’02), “God of War: Ragnarok – Valhalla”; Gordy Haab (GCRT ’02), “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor”; and Austin Wintory (’07), “Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical” were nominated for Video Game Score of the Year.

https://music.usc.edu/2024-ascap-composers-choice-awards/
https://www.ascap.com/composerschoice

Alumni nominated for 2024 ASCAP Composers' Choice Awards - USC Thornton School of Music On February 21, several USC Thornton alumni received nominations in the 2024 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards.

Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) won a 2024 BAFTA Award in the Best Original Score category for his soundtrack to "Oppenheimer," marking the composer’s first BAFTA Award.

Ludwig Göransson wins 2024 BAFTA Award for "Oppenheimer" score Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) won his first BAFTA Award in the Best Original Score category for his soundtrack to "Oppenheimer."

USC Thornton Screen Scoring alum Sturdivant Adams recently won the American Prize in Composition for Instrumental Chamber Music. He is also currently working as a film composer, recently scoring the adventure film Prisoners of Paradise (2024) and composing additional music on Sony/Marvel's Kraven the Hunter (2024).

National winners: COMPOSERS (instrumental chamber music), 2023 The American Prize National Nonprofit Competitions in the Performing Arts , David Volosin Katz, founder and chief judge, is honored to anno...

Jules Pegram (‘13), a USC Thornton Composition program alumnus, has joined the composition faculty for the 2024 International Music Festival of the Adriatic Sea (IMFA). Set in Duino, Italy, IMFA is a collaborative music-making program that provides masterclasses, workshops and recitals for musicians 18 and up. The program will be held on June 2-29.

https://music.usc.edu/jules-pegram-imfa-2024/
https://www.julespegram.com/
https://www.luther.edu/academics/centers-resources/global-learning/semester-year-long/imfa

Jules Pegram joins 2024 International Music Festival of the Adriatic Sea Jules Pegram (‘13), a USC Thornton Composition program alumnus, has joined the composition faculty for the 2024 International Music Festival of the Adriatic Sea (IMFA).

USC Thornton Vocal Arts & Opera alumni Diana Newman (‘12, MM ‘14) and Arnold Geis (MM ‘14) will be soloists in the New York Philharmonic’s U.S. premiere of Émigré, composed by Aaron Zigman. The performance takes place on Feb. 29–Mar. 1 at David Geffen Hall.

https://music.usc.edu/diana-newman-arnold-geis-ny-philharmonic-emigre/
https://nyphil.org/concerts-tickets/2324/zigman-emigre

Diana Newman and Arnold Geis perform in New York Philharmonic's U.S. premiere of Émigré USC Thornton Vocal Arts & Opera alumni Diana Newman (‘12, MM ‘14) and Arnold Geis (MM ‘14) will be soloists in the New York Philharmonic's U.S. premiere of "Émigré," composed by Aaron Zigman.

USC Thornton alumni have won in several categories of the fifth annual Society of Composers and Lyricists Awards, which were held on February 13 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08) won Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film with his score for Oppenheimer. Carlos Rafael Rivera (MM ‘04, DMA ‘10) won Outstanding Original Title Sequence for a Television Production for his work on the series, Lessons in Chemistry. Gordy Haab (GCRT ’02) won Outstanding Original Score for Interactive Media for the video game, “Star Wars Jedi: Survivor,” alongside Stephen Barton.

https://thescl.com/scl-awards/
https://music.usc.edu/society-of-composers-and-lyricists-awards-2024/

SCL Awards - The Society of Composers and Lyricists The SCL Awards The Society of Composers & Lyricists, the premier organization for composers and songwriters working in visual media, hosts the annual SCL Awards, which celebrate excellence and innovation…

USC Thornton Popular Music alumna Remi Wolf (‘18) collaborated with Norah Jones on her new Spotify single, a cover of Big Thief’s “Change,” which was released on January 31.

https://music.usc.edu/remi-wolf-norah-jones-change/
https://open.spotify.com/track/3mehDctP70zwlcRaY4iQ1X
https://www.norahjonesisplayingalong.com/remi-wolf

Remi Wolf collaborates with Norah Jones on Spotify single - USC Thornton School of Music USC Thornton alum Remi Wolf (‘18) collaborated with Norah Jones on her new Spotify single, a cover of Big Thief's "Change."

Celebrated conductor and USC Thornton alumnus Vimbayi Kaziboni (‘10) has won the 2024 Alice M. Ditson Fund Conductor’s Award. He earned $5,000 and a citation from Columbia University’s president, Minouche Shafik. Established in 1945, the Alice M. Ditson Fund is the oldest continuing award honoring conductors for distinguished contributions to American music.

https://music.usc.edu/vimbayi-kaziboni-2024-ditson-fund-conductors-award/
https://music.columbia.edu/news/vimbayi-kaziboni-wins-2024-ditson-conductors-award

Vimbayi Kaziboni wins 2024 Ditson Fund Conductor's Award - USC Thornton School of Music Celebrated conductor and USC Thornton alumnus Vimbayi Kaziboni (‘10) has won the 2024 Alice M. Ditson Fund Conductor’s Award, honoring conductors for distinguished contributions to American music.

USC Thornton piano alumnus Stephen Cera (MM '74) wrote a feature in Gramophone magazine commemorating legendary pianist, Josef Lhevinne.

Icon: Josef Lhevinne Stephen Cera celebrates this great pianist of the era of Russian Romanticism, taking his relatively few recordings and exploring them to reveal what makes his playing so special

"On a rainy night in Los Angeles, USC Thornton faculty and alumni were celebrated at the 66th annual Grammy Awards. The televised ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 4 featured performers, songwriters, arrangers, composers and music industry professionals from across the school. With over 15 awards, from artists to composers to industry professionals representing winners, it was an exceptional showing.

On music’s biggest night, a nomination can often be as important as a win, particularly for young musicians, and both are highlighted here. The awards this year included multiple collaborations, both artistic and professional, in a night that offered a key takeaway: No artist makes it to the podium alone. Music is made possible by collaboration, cooperation, and community."

A Spectacular Night at the 2024 Grammy Awards - USC Thornton School of Music USC Thornton faculty and alumni were celebrated at the 66th Grammy Awards, featuring performers and industry professionals school-wide.

Several USC Thornton alumni have been nominated in the 5th annual Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) Awards.

https://music.usc.edu/2024-society-of-composers-lyricists-awards/
https://thescl.com/news/nominees-announced-for-5th-annual-scl-awards/

Alumni garner nominations in 2024 Society of Composers & Lyricists Awards Several USC Thornton alumni have been nominated in the 5th Annual Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) Awards, which celebrate excellence and innovation in music for visual media.

Gina Luciani, a Thornton alumna and flutist, has launched “Practice Note: The Practice Notebook for Musicians.” Practice Note is a modern journal with weekly music practice pages and goal sheets, available in 11 different versions. The journal features a clear layout and vibrant designs to help organize and inspire musicians of all ages. Explore each version of Practice Note here.

https://music.usc.edu/gina-luciani-practice-note/
https://practicenote.shop/

Flutist Gina Luciani creates practice notebook for musicians - USC Thornton School of Music Gina Luciani (MM '13), a USC Thornton alumna and flutist, has launched “Practice Note: The Practice Notebook for Musicians.”

USC Thornton alumnus Billy Childs (BM '79) will be honored by the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on March 2nd at their 23rd annual Arthur L. Johnson-Honarble Damon Jerome Keith Classical Roots Celebration. The celebration honors African American composers, musicians, educators, and leaders for a lifetime achievement and raises funds to support the DSO's African American music and musician development programs.

https://www.dso.org/events-and-tickets/events/23-24-winter/classical-roots-celebration.
https://www.dso.org/watch-listen-and-connect/newsroom-2/dso-presents-46th-annual-classical-roots-concerts

Classical Roots Celebration Join donors from across the Detroit community and around the world to bring outstanding music, life-changing educational programs and far-reaching engagement activities to over 500,000 people each year!

USC Thornton alumnus Vimbayi Kaziboni ('10) has been awarded the 2024 Ditson Conductor's Award from Columbia University. Past recipients of the award have included Leonard Bernstein, Marin Alsop, John Adams, and Michael Tilson Thomas ('67, MM '76).

Vimbayi Kaziboni Wins 2024 Ditson Conductor's Award Described as a conductor of “great intensity, without distancing, maneuvering, without indifference” (Neue Muzikzeitung - Leipzig) Zimbabwean-born conductor Vimbayi Kaziboni is the recipient of the 2024 Alice M. Ditson Fund Conductor’s Award. He has received $5,000 and a citation from Columbia...

USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Bear McCreary (’02) composed the score for the Disney Plus television series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which premiered on Dec 20. The first season is available for streaming on Disney+.

https://music.usc.edu/mccreary-percy-jackson-olympians/
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLO6S2qKFLclpUQResYYCDfmN_dFCu2Uow
https://www.disneyplus.com/series/percy-jackson-and-the-olympians/ql33aq42HBdr

Bear McCreary composes score for Disney+ series, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians" USC Thornton Composition program alumnus Bear McCreary ('02) composed the score for the Disney+ television series, "Percy Jackson and the Olympians," which premiered on Dec. 20.

Pianist, composer and USC Thornton alumnus Gerald Clayton (’07) has embarked on a North American tour with The Blue Note Quintet—featuring saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins, vibraphonist Joel Ross, drummer Kendrick Scott and bassist Matt Brewer—in celebration of Blue Note Records’ 85th Anniversary. The tour includes 35 stops from January 18th to March 8th, with a Los Angeles show taking place on Feb. 4 at the Lodge Room.

https://music.usc.edu/gerald-clayton-blue-note-quintet-tour/
https://www.bluenote.com/artist/the-blue-note-quintet/
https://www.bluenote.com/the-blue-note-quintet-85th-anniversary-tour/
https://geraldclayton.com/albums

Gerald Clayton tours North America with The Blue Note Quintet - USC Thornton School of Music Pianist, composer and USC Thornton alumnus Gerald Clayton (’07) has embarked on a North American tour with The Blue Note Quintet in 2024.

USC Thornton Composition program alumna Katya Richardson (’19) co-composed the score for The Last Repair Shop, a Los Angeles Times and Searchlight Pictures production. The soundtrack was nominated for Best Score in the eighth annual Critics Choice Documentary Awards.

https://music.usc.edu/katya-richardson-the-last-repair-shop/
https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/awards/story/2023-12-21/the-last-repair-shop-oscars-short-list-latimes-studios-searchlight-pictures
https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-last-repair-shop-original-score/1716092773
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xttrkgKXtZ4

Katya Richardson co-composed score for "The Last Repair Shop" - USC Thornton School of Music USC Thornton Composition program alumna Katya Richardson ('19) co-composed the score for "The Last Repair Shop," a Los Angeles Times and Searchlight Pictures production.