UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA thornton school of music USCornton viewbook )'(*,(+

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As the music profession changes, the USC Thornton School of Music offers an innovative education that prepares students for careers at the highest level as performers, composers, educators and industry leaders. We do this while making the most of our location in Los Angeles, the nation’s center for creativity and original art of all kinds. Robert Cutietta Our three exceptional divisions offer cross-genre experiences Dean of the USC Thornton unique among the country’s top music schools. As a leading School of Music international research institution, USC offers students a rigorous, global education that enriches their artistic and musical development. USCornton School of Music

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Online Extras Full stories and videos for the features in this viewbook are at music.usc.edu/viewbook

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Classical Contemporary Scholarly & Performance & Music Professional Composition page 8 Studies page 2 page 12

visit us online @ music.usc.edu Cellist Jacobs-Perkins in downtown Los Angeles, framed by the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion and Walt Disney Concert Hall. classical performance & composition ON THE HORIZON: BRIGHT FUTURES

classical music is as vibrant as it has ever been, but it's changing and so are we. We've created a new undergraduate curriculum that will challenge students to develop a distinct artistic voice and create a thriving career in classical music. We’re calling it the ReDesign. our goal? to train artists who will expand classical music’s influence and impact, now and in years to come. Read more at music.usc.edu/viewbook classical performance & composition

“If you monitor the New York arts press, you will quickly understand that Los Angeles is hot. The coast-to-coast winning the Game current has changed of Musical Chairs Recent grads across all disciplines are course: young being hired by professional symphonies. The odds of winning a position in a full-time painters, writers orchestra are daunting. Nabbing a spot is rare, but graduates of USC Thornton have been winning and musicians are these highly competitive seats at an enviable rate. “Our grads are all over the world — in the New York flocking here.” Philharmonic, the Concertgebouw, Swedish radio, - Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times music critic Madrid,” says clarinet professor Yehuda Gilad.

Female Conductors Seize the baton A Semester at Sibelius Doctoral students make their musical A young composer learns to appreciate Finland’s marks at USC — and afterwards. cold and calm in a new study abroad program. Three Choral & Sacred Music students and USC Thornton forged new ground when it established recent alums are earning plaudits on the podium the International Exchanges program, creating as conductors. Jenny Wong, Irene Apanovitch and opportunities for students to travel and study abroad. Shou-Ping Liu are seeing success in the Los Angeles As part of the program, Composition major Curtis Master Chorale, the American Choral Directors Green spent a semester at the Sibelius Academy Association Graduate Conducting Competition and in Helsinki, Finland. the orchestra and chorus at Union College.

4 USC Thornton School of Music / 2018-19 PROGRAMS Choral & 94% Sacred Music of recent alumni said Classical Guitar they would likely enroll at USC Thornton if they had the Composition chance to do it over again. keyboard Collaborative Arts keyboard Studies organ Studies Strings vocal Arts & opera winds & Percussion

USC Thornton alumni are well represented on the rosters of major American orchestras: New York Philharmonic (5, incl. assistant concertmaster, principal viola & principal tuba); Symphony (5, incl. principal tuba); Cincinnati Symphony (5, incl. principal bass & oboe); San Francisco Symphony (7, incl. the conductor); Los Angeles Philharmonic (18, incl. principal cello, trumpet, percussion & timpani); Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (14, incl. principal harp, trumpet, viola & composer in residence); and principal chairs with the Auckland Philharmonia, Boston Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, Kansas City Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Seattle Symphony.

(L-R) Annie Ranzani, Justin Woo, Nao Kubota and Malik Taylor at the Department of Water and Power headquarters in downtown Los Angeles.

@USCThornton / music.usc.edu 5 classical performance & composition 87% of USC Thornton undergraduates complete their degrees in six years, but most (73%) graduate in four. The national six-year completion rate “I find Los Angeles is 59%. to be the most vital artistic community in the country right now, and we really have to look no further than our campus.” - Margaret Batjer, strings faculty member and concertmaster of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra

Those Recital Student Premieres work experiences Pay off at Royal ballet Keyboard Studies student appears Undergraduate found her British collaborator at The Kennedy Center. online, and worked via Skype. Every year, the more than 300 student recitals on Composer Katya Richardson, in her junior year, campus are important warmups for professional collaborated with British choreographer Charlotte performances. Example A is So-Mang Jeagal ’15 Edmonds on a piece for England’s Royal Ballet. who, while earning an Artist Diploma, won After collaborating online via Skype, Richardson’s the Grand Prize at the Washington, D.C., Interna- music and Edmonds’ choreography premiered tional Piano Competition in 2014 that included a in spring 2018, and Richardson traveled to London concerto appearance at The Kennedy Center. for the event.

6 USC Thornton School of Music / 2018-19 Vocalists (L-R): Victoria Fox, Diana Newman, Anthony Moreno, Amy Lawrence, from the USC Thornton Opera production of Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea

Two Seniors These Singers Do it All earn Fulbrights singers as producers, two recent alumni From Classmates to directors, music arrangers, will spend the 2018-19 Professional Colleagues set builders, costumers academic year abroad two violinists, recent and prop masters. for Student Composer is as fulbright scholars. alumni michelle tseng more than a dozen years, Musical America’s New choral & sacred music and tianyun Jia, both the chamber opera of Artist of the Month alumna Geetha somaya- won jobs in the lA Phil, usc has been thriving as Doctoral candidate Julia jula will travel to india while cellist Peter myers a student-run organization Adolphe, who has had to study classical music is the new assistant that provides performing works commissioned by traditions, while Jazz principal cello of the opportunities to under- the new York Philhar- studies alumnus max san francisco opera. graduate singers and monic and los Angeles Kapur is bound for south the runner-up? his directing opportunities Philharmonic, recently Korea to teach English. classmate and fellow to graduate students. was the magazine’s Both double majored at member of the sakura the students produce featured new artist. in usc: somayajula earned cello quintet, Yoshika two opera or musical her interview, she said a second degree from masuda. theater productions every gender diversity at usc the usc marshall school Read these stories year, and learn how thornton was one of of Business, and Kapur and see the videos to be true ensemble the reasons she chose in East Asian languages at music.usc.edu/ participants. the school. & cultures. viewbook

@USCThornton / music.usc.edu 7 Celeste Butler (center) with Amir Kelly, Nyallah Noah and Eddie Stone, performing at the 2018 Popular Music Senior Showcase at the El Rey Theatre.  contemporary music ALWAYS INNOVATING ALWAYS COLLABORATING

from Popular music to screen scoring to Jazz studies, the programs in the Division of contemporary music are among the industry’s best and most celebrated. they have always been musical pathfinders, and are also known for their embrace of new technology and creative collaborations with new media, dance, theater and musicians located around the world. Read more at music.usc.edu/viewbook contemporary music USC Thornton Returns to Studio A the contemporary music Division thrives on collabo- ration. Each spring, usc thornton organizes a recording session at capitol records’ famed studio A with legendary engineer Al schmitt. the event involves students from three pro- grams—the usc thornton Jazz orchestra performs arrangements written by students in the screen scoring program, while music Production students “There are so many assist with the recording. sides to being a composer in the film industry. The business. The creative. USC does a wonderful job of giving you that whole package.” - Duncan Thum (’06, GC ’13) Emmy-nominated film composer and Screen Scoring alum

Music industry Students brimming with Creativity Undergrad student creates A New Space for a Song “the WordPress of event planning.” USC Thornton unveils new Songwriter’s Theater. Alvin Liang has quite a few music industry insiders The school debuted a brand new venue for song- expecting big things from him. Not for his artistry, writing — a space dedicated to words, music and mind you, but for his killer apps. Last October, Liang creation. The 980-square-foot space has a state-of- wowed the judges at the 11th annual USC Stevens the-art sound system and stage rigging, LED light- Student Innovator Showcase, landing his team the ing and seats 50 in an intimate theater setting. A $10,000 grand prize for “Best Business Concept.” grand piano, drum set, guitars and amps stay in the His idea: a scalable, self-serve event planning room, at the ready for songwriters to test their work. platform called EventAll.

10 USC Thornton School of Music / 2018-19 PROGRAMS Jazz Studies Music industry Music Technology Popular Music Screen Scoring Drummer Brandon Combs and vocalist Nolan Frank in a recording session at Capitol Records’ Studio A. Studio Guitar

Jazz in Amsterdam Leading Music the language barrier Pop Music Forum industry Alumni Two Years out, wasn’t such a barrier at brings Pros to Talk You can find music indus- Two Nominations all. Jazz standards are About work (and Play) try alums in leadership When Duncan thum performed the world top singers and instru- positions across enter- got the call, his jaw went over. As part of usc mentalists from all tainment fields. Julia slack. An Emmy nomina- thornton’s international genres, music producers, Betley ’06 was recently tion for outstanding programs, 10 students songwriters and other promoted to vice presi- music composition for from the Jazz studies industry stars regularly dent of licensing and a series. less than two program traveled to speak to students at the soundtracks at rcA years out of school, in Amsterdam over spring Pop music forum, held records, and Ben Adel- his rookie year as an Break to meet, study and exclusively for usc son ’09, a senior vice independent hollywood perform with students thornton students. A president at republic composer, he’d made from the conservatorium recent guest was John records, made Billboard the television Academy’s van Amsterdam. mayer, who gave a song- magazine’s list of “40 top-six list. the following Read these stories writing masterclass under 40: music’s top year, thum was nomi- and see the videos complete with white- Young Power Players nated again for an at music.usc.edu/ board illustrations. revealed.” episode of Chef’s Table. viewbook

@USCThornton / music.usc.edu 11

 scholarly & professional studies A FRESH LOOK AT

it’s a fact. music education programs haven’t changed very much in 150 years. usc thornton is changing that with a new master’s degree for students who want to earn teaching certification in california and other states, where traditional band, orchestra and choir are being joined by guitar, songwriting and technology classes. Keeping a close eye on our alumni and education trends, we are training multi-talented teachers to meet the realities of today’s school music programs. Read more at music.usc.edu/viewbook

Alumnus Jim Wang leads an orchestra rehearsal at Lincoln Middle School in Santa Monica. scholarly & professional studies 50% of current doctoral students presented papers at scholarly conferences during the past year.

Transforming the Landscape of Teacher education A new Master’s degree debuted in 2018. “It’s really important “Today’s music teachers need to feel comfortable teaching a wind ensemble, overseeing a rock band, for us as students leading a songwriting class using acoustic and digital technology and organizing concerts of student- to get involved created music,” says vice dean Peter Webster. This is the vision for the new Master’s degree in in our community, K-12 Contemporary Teaching Practice.

particularly with Success without a Podium programs that go An ensemble without a conductor, but with plenty of gigs. into schools and Benjamin Mitchell launched the Kaleidoscope Chamber Orchestra with help from USC Thornton’s develop lasting Arts Leadership program. An innovative and con- ductorless ensemble that’s breathing new life into relationships classical music in Los Angeles, Kaleidoscope fea- tures some of the best players in the city who col- with the kids.” laborate through a democratic process to prepare - Rose Campion, USC’s 2018 valedictorian, and perform a wide range of orchestral pieces. was a double major in music and history. Campion accepted the Ertegun Scholarship to pursue a MPhil in at Oxford University.

14 USC Thornton School of Music / 2018-19 PROGRAMS Arts Leadership early Music Performance Music Teaching & Learning Musicology Community Alumnus Vince Womack, at right, rehearsing on stage with his students engagement at the James Foshay Learning Center in South Los Angeles. Polish Music Center

Arts entrepreneurship: why Should where Art Meets For a better brain, Musicians Mentor? Stepping in to bring StARTup Learn Music the usc thornton Music to Students Kenneth foster began faculty member Beatriz community Engagement usc thornton alumna the Arts leadership ilari has been conducting Program pairs local pub- catherine cooper program at usc to teach a study in partnership lic schools with students launched a music educa- students to apply their with the lA Phil and from all divisions and tion program for under- creative skills to grow heart of los Angeles degree programs, who served students in from artist to arts entre- to show that musical then mentor and teach central california. “it’s preneur. What makes training can alter brain the students. A three- the most fulfilling work i artists and leaders stand structures for the better. part video series came do,” says cooper, “i love out from the crowd is the study results under- out last year, showing teaching in a school, their ability to envision score the importance many of the student but there’s something possibilities and make of community music mentors in action. special and unique them happen—traits programs that can offset Read these stories about being able to give closely related to those some of the negative and see the videos children and families of successful entrepre- effects of low socio- at music.usc.edu/ the gift of music.” neurs. economic status. viewbook

@USCThornton / music.usc.edu 15 USC An extraordinary campus—full Number of students, many of them music majors, who live in USC Village, a 15-acre of opportunities— residential and retail center across the street from USC in the heart of Thornton. Trader Joe's and Los Angeles Target, anyone?

Artistic Collaborations Double Majors The 2018 spring musical, West Side Story, which Jason Lewis ’19 is pursuing a BA in Music with coincided with the 100th anniversary of composer a second major in Computational Neuroscience. Leonard Bernstein’s birth, was a collaborative He is part of the medical engineering design club production between three USC arts schools — the that 3-D printed an ophthalmoscope that attaches USC School of Dramatic Arts, USC Glorya Kaufman to an iPhone. It took 33 hours to print, and Lewis School of Dance and the USC Thornton School wrote the app to operate it. of Music. Students' combined talents made it an epic triple threat of a production. The Trojan Family is Forever Coliseum Renovation USC Thornton roots run deep at major entertain- ment and cultural institutions, from the GRAMMY The LA Memorial Coliseum, the historic venue Museum and Hollywood studios to major orchestras that has hosted the Summer Olympics twice and around the globe. Strong alumni networks are is home to the USC Trojans football team, is under- active worldwide, and help open professional going a renovation project that will be completed doors for USC Thornton graduates. in 2019.

@USCThornton / music.usc.edu 17 Drummer Kelly Cruz keeps the beat in the LA Fashion District.

How to Apply

Application Process 1. Determine the specific application requirements for your chosen program Financial Aid (details at music.usc.edu/admission). University-wide 2. Complete the appropriate USC Application All domestic students are encouraged to apply for Admission (available at usc.edu/admission). for need-based financial aid. 3. Complete the supplemental music portions of Academic scholarships are also available for the USC application, and upload the appropriate undergraduate students. For more information, media submission(s) (including prescreen mate- visit usc.edu/financialaid. rial, as required) through the SlideRoom portal USC Thornton School (instructions at music.usc.edu/admission). Graduate and undergraduate applicants to 4. Perform an audition, if required, according to scholarship-eligible programs are automatically the specific audition requirements of your chosen considered for music scholarships based upon program (details at music.usc.edu/admission). their application and audition. For more information, : Teaching assistantships are available for some 800-872-2213 graduate programs. Applications can be down- [email protected] loaded from music.usc.edu/admission.

18 USC Thornton School of Music / 2018-19 ADMISSION TIMELINE

December 1 • Application deadline for all programs January – March • Live auditions (by invitation only) in January and early February • Application and/or Degrees & Majors portfolio review April 1* • Admission and financial Undergraduate Majors include the Bachelor of aid notification Music (BM), Bachelor of Arts (BA), and Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees. April 15 Undergraduate Minors include Jazz Studies, Music • Graduate enrollment commitment deadline Industry, Music Production, Music Recording, Musical Studies, , Popular Music Studies, and May 1* Songwriting. • Undergraduate enrollment Graduate Programs include the Master of Arts (MA), commitment deadline Master of Music (MM), Master of Science (MS), Graduate * Notification and commit- Certificate (GCRT), Artist Diploma (ARTD), Doctor of ment dates can vary for Musical Arts (DMA), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). undergraduate transfers Classical Performance & Composition Brass (BA, Bm, mm, Gcrt, ArtD, DmA) choral music (BA, mm, DmA) classical Guitar (BA, Bm, mm, Gcrt, ArtD, DmA) composition (Bm, mm, DmA) Keyboard collaborative Arts (mm, Gcrt, ArtD, DmA) 72% organ (BA, Bm, mm, Gcrt, DmA) Percussion (BA, Bm, mm, Gcrt, ArtD, DmA) of current USC Thornton students receive financial awards that Piano (BA, Bm, mm, Gcrt, ArtD, DmA) do not need to be repaid. sacred music (mm, DmA) strings (BA, Bm, mm, Gcrt, ArtD, DmA) Vocal Arts (BA, Bm, mm, Gcrt, DmA) Woodwinds (BA, Bm, mm, Gcrt, ArtD, DmA) Gainful employment Disclosures Contemporary Music The United States Department of Education re- Jazz studies, instrumental (BA, Bm, mm, Gcrt, DmA) quires that not-for-profit educational institutions Jazz studies, Vocal (BA) disclose certain types of information regarding music industry (Bs, ms) programs that do not lead to a degree. These fed- music Production (Bm) eral regulations are designed to provide informa- Popular music Performance (Bm) tion about programs leading to gainful screen scoring (mm) employment in a recognized occupation. studio Guitar (mm, Gcrt, DmA) In the USC Thornton School of Music, three pro- grams are subject to these federal requirements: Scholarly & Professional Studies (1) the Artist Diploma program; (2) the Graduate Arts leadership (Gcrt, mPA, ms) Certificate program in Arts Leadership; and (3) the community music (mm) Graduate Certificate program in Music Performance. contemporary teaching Practice (mm) The required information for these programs is Early music Performance (mA, Gcrt, DmA) available at music.usc.edu/admission/gainful- music teaching & learning (mm, DmA) employment-disclosures. musicology (PhD)

@USCThornton / music.usc.edu 19 Strings Violin Lina Bahn Margaret Batjer Martin Chalifour Glenn Dicterow Horn Bing Wang Steven Becknell Viola Kristy Morrell, chair Che-Yen Chen Trumpet Karen Dreyfus Thomas Hooten Cello Jennifer Marotta USC Thornton Faculty Ralph Kirshbaum, chair Trombone Andrew Shulman Terry S. Cravens Double Bass Tuba David Allen Moore Norman Pearson Harp James Self Classical Performance JoAnn Turovsky Doug Tornquist & Composition Orchestral Repetoire Percussion Choral & Sacred Music Ben Hong James Babor Joseph Pereira Suzi Digby Conducting Trojan Marching Band Cristian Grases Lucinda Carver, Arthur C. Bartner Lynn Helding vice dean Contemporary Music Vocal Arts & Opera Mary Mattei Cristian Grases Jazz Studies Thomas Michael Allen Jo-Michael Scheibe, Sharon Lavery Bass Ken Cazan chair Larry J. Livingston, Alphonso Johnson Parmer Fuller, Tram Sparks chair Edwin Livingston musical theater Nick Strimple Troy Quinn Darek “Oles” Oleszkiewicz Lisa Sylvester H. Robert Reynolds Rod Gilfry Ladd Thomas Jo-Michael Scheibe Rakefet Hak Jazz Composition Tram Sparks Lynn Helding Jason Goldman Classical Guitar Carl St.Clair, Elizabeth Hynes Vince Mendoza Brian Head, chair principal conductor Brent McMunn, Bob Mintzer William Kanengiser music director Percussion Pepe Romero Keyboard Lisa Sylvester, chair Scott Tennant Collaborative Arts Peter Erskine Kevin Fitz-Gerald Winds & Percussion Roy McCurdy Composition Alan L. Smith, director Flute Aaron Serfaty Composition James Walker Donald Crockett, chair Keyboard Studies Piano Sean Friar Bernadene Blaha Oboe David Arnay Ted Hearne Lucinda Carver, Marion Kuszyk Russell Ferrante Morten Lauridsen vice dean Joel Timm Alan Pasqua Andrew Norman Kevin Fitz-Gerald Allan Vogel Saxophone Frank Ticheli Stewart Gordon Clarinet Jason Goldman Jeffrey Kahane Theory & Analysis Yehuda Gilad Bob Mintzer, chair Sung-Hwa Park Bill Biersach David Howard Bob Sheppard Antoinette Perry Neal Desby Michele Zukovsky Stephen Pierce Trombone Sarah Gibson Daniel Pollack Bassoon Andy Martin Brian Head Alan L. Smith, chair Judith Farmer Veronika Krausas Trumpet Shawn Mouser Robert S. Moore Organ Ron McCurdy Christopher Rozé Cherry Rhodes Saxophone Michael Stever Mark Weiser Ladd Thomas, chair Jessica Maxfield John Thomas

20 USC Thornton School of Music / 2018-19 Screen Scoring Early Music Pete Anthony Lucinda Carver Chris Brooks Lot Demeyer Bruce Broughton Susan Feldman Jon Burlingame Jennifer Kampani Daniel Carlin, Adam Knight Gilbert, Front cover: (L-R) Sam Yun, director Julian McLanahan, Geetha director Sean Dougall Somayajula, and Kelly Cruz Rotem Gilbert playing on a downtown Laura Karpman Charles Koster Los Angeles rooftop. Patrick Kirst William Skeen Richard McIlvery Copy: Evan Calbi, Allison Engel Jason Yoshida Eric Schmidt Design: Rick Simner Design Vocal Jazz Garry Schyman Music Teaching Photography: Cover photos (front Sara Gazarek Lawrence Shragge & Learning and back): Vance Jacobs; Nathan Kathleen Grace Chris Young Robert Cutietta, dean Carter (Scholarly, p. 1, Mentorship, Susan Helfter, chair p. 15); Martin Chalifour (Adolphe, Music Industry Studio Guitar p. 7); Andrew Garver (Capitol, p. 11); Beatriz Ilari Jeff Brabec Adam del Monte Catherine Cooper (p. 15); Curtis Judy Lewis Green (p. 4); Dario Griffin (Contem- Todd Brabec Bruce Forman Peter Webster, porary, p. 1, Fulbrights, p. 7, p. 8-9, Michael Garcia Timothy Kobza vice dean Songwriter’s p. 10, Liang, p. 10, Mark Goldstein Frank Potenza Betley, p. 11, p. 12-13, Entrepreneur- Trudy Green Richard Smith Musicology ship, p. 15); Kristina Jacinth (Pop- Jeremy Gruber Nick Stoubis, chair pea, p. 7); Vance Jacobs (Classical, Bruce Alan Brown p. 1, 2-3, 5, p. 18); So-Mang Jeagal Michael Kaminsky Steve Trovato Joanna Demers, chair (p. 6); Jason Lewis (p. 17); Abhishek Kevin Lyman Adam Knight Gilbert Mangla (Amsterdam, p. 11); Richard McIlvery Scholarly & Rotem Gilbert Peter Myers (p. 7); Erin Offenhauser Loren Medina Professional Studies Dana Gioia (Chamber Opera, p. 7, Mayer, p. 11, p. 21); Katya Richardson (p. 6); Vivian Wang Leah Morrison Arts Leadership Gus Ruelas (Cutietta, p. 1, Capion, Richard Wolf Sean Nye Helane Anderson p. 14, Village, p. 17); Craig Schwartz Lindsay Wolfington Tim Page (West Side Story, p. 17); Chris Shinn Snehal Desai Paul Young Nate Sloan (p. 16); Duncan Thum (p. 11); Kenneth Foster, Scott Spencer Jenny Wong (p. 4). Music Technology director Lisa Cooper Vest Printing: Printer Name Charles Gutierrez Dana Gioia Sean Holt Jackelyn Lopez *Faculty, as of June 1, 2018 Richard McIlvery Chris Sampson Richard Schmunk, chair Michael “Smidi” Smith Popular Music Andy Abad Jeffrey Allen Robert Anderson Michael Arrom Adriana Balic Sean Holt Paul Jackson, Jr. Alphonso Johnson Lyndia Johnson Timothy Kobza David Poe Patrice Rushen, chair Chris Sampson, vice dean Richard Smith Andrea Stolpe Nick Stoubis Steve Trovato Faculty member Pepe Romero conducts a masterclass with classical guitarist Max Brenner USC ornton School of Music

Office of Admission University Park Campus TMC 200 Los Angeles, CA 90089-0851 phone: 800-872-2213 [email protected]

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Trumpet student Cameron Wilkins in downtown Los Angeles.