USC Thornton School of Music

05/19/2026

"Graduates, sometimes the smartest move you will ever make will look irrational to people who don't understand your calling. Let them be confused. You keep it moving."

USC Thornton's inaugural Distinguished Visionary Leadership Award recipient and music industry legend Sylvia Rhone offers wisdom to our Class of 2026, encouraging graduates to be bold in their future professional careers.

Photo credit: (1,4) .fei / (3) Courtesy of the Recording Academy

05/06/2026

USC Thornton Screen Scoring Graduate Gabriel Mann (GCRT ’96) is nominated for two Tony Awards for Best Orchestrations & Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre for "The Lost Boys" musical.

Mann shares these nominations as a member of The Rescues with singer/songwriters & multi instrumentalists Kyler England & Adrianne Gonzalez, as well as with orchestrator Ethan Popp.

"The Lost Boys" musical adaptation leads this year's Tony Award nominations with 12 nods including Best Musical. Tied with "Schmigadoon!" for the most nominations of the season, the production of the 80's cult classic film was recognized for its creative team and performances, with winners to be announced June 7, 2026.

04/30/2026

On today’s Day of SCupport, we’re reminded of the tapestry of interconnected programs and departments that form the unique academic landscape of the USC Thornton School of Music.

“For the Vocal Arts & Opera department,” says chair Dr. Lisa Sylvester, “it’s a vibrant community of faculty and students who thrive on supporting each other in their artistic journey. We care deeply about the music we make and about connecting to each other and to the audiences.”

Come and join us in our collective journey to inspire the next generation of culture-defining artists, musical thinkers, and arts leaders by pledging your support today!

Donations in any amount are instrumental in building pathways to success for our exceptional students, faculty and staff. Please consider giving by using the giving link in the comments below!

04/29/2026

On this Day of SCupport, join the USC Thornton School of Music in strengthening the musical futures of our extraordinary students, faculty and staff. Your contributions, in any amount, are an immeasurable force for good, made possible by you and by the strength of the Trojan Family.

The power of this community is what elevates USC Thornton to where it stands today. Without your collective support, our success would not be where it is now.

Today, we invite you to join that legacy. When you give to Thornton, you’re expanding the possibilities for what’s next and what we can achieve together. Give today through our link in the comments below!

2026 USC Thornton Day of SCupport - Production Spaces

04/28/2026

USC Thornton School of Music Day of SCupport is tomorrow! On Wednesday April 29, the Trojan Family unites to inspire the next generation of culture-defining visionaries, artists and leaders across the entire USC Community. Your generous gift, in any amount, strengthens the unique educational and professional experiences that define our school, as well as ensembles such the USC Thornton Chamber Virtuosi, an elite touring ensemble founded by our esteemed Strings faculty Seth Parker Woods (cello) and Lina Bahn (violin).

“One of the cornerstones of our amazing department is chamber music as a way of bringing together all the different students from across different degree programs into a space where they’re able to share their stories,” says Woods, championing the boundary-defying spirit that guides the Thornton School.

When you give to Thornton, you’re expanding the possibilities for what’s next and what we can achieve together. Make a contribution today by following the link in the comments to ensure the future ahead is bright for our students, faculty and staff.

2026 USC Thornton Day of SCupport with Seth Parker Woods and Lina Bahn

04/27/2026

Day of SCupport is this week! On Wednesday April 29, the Trojan Family is coming together to create momentum for what matters most. When you give to the USC Thornton School of Music, you’re laying the foundation for our students’ musical futures, strengthened by groundbreaking programs guided by world-class faculty that make each day extraordinary for our students.

For legendary keyboardist and Popular Music faculty member Greg Phillinganes, it means giving back to the next generation of culture-defining artists: “I benefited greatly from arts programs. They actually contributed to my musical and personal foundation. I want to pass on my knowledge and insight with these uniquely and immensely gifted, talented students.”

Gifts in any amount are immeasurably powerful contributions to ensure the future ahead is bright for our students, faculty and staff. Give today by following our link the comments below, and help us write Thornton’s next chapter!

04/23/2026

We mourn the passing of celebrated conductor, USC Judge Widney Professor and USC Thornton alumnus Michael Tilson Thomas (BM ’67, MM ’76). He was 81.

As The New York Times wrote, he was “the best teacher and demystifier of classical music since Leonard Bernstein.”

Pictured on the right with acclaimed violinist and Emerita Professor of Violin Alice Schoenfeld, MTT's fertile imagination took shape as a Thornton student in Los Angeles, studying from faculty such as composer Ingolf Dahl, violinist Jascha Heifetz and cellist Gregor Piatigorsky.

Michael Tilson Thomas’s impact was profound. He championed bold new voices as Music Director of the San Francisco Symphony and premiered new works with National Youth Orchestra — among them, Composition faculty member Ted Hearne and alum Nina Shekhar.

His legacy lives in those he inspired and in the fearless spirit he brought to the art form.

Kennedy Center Honors photo: Greg Allen/Invision/AP
Other photos: Courtest of USC Thornton School of Music

04/11/2026

This Thursday, globally-acclaimed artist and producer KSHMR gave University of Southern California USC Thornton School of Music students an exclusive presentation on his production techniques that have lifted tracks like "Tsunami," "Secrets," and the iconic "Like A G6" to the top of the charts.

In partnership with Splice, this presentation broke down how ideas evolve from initial production to live performance — including insights from KSHMR’s orchestral collaborations, tour-ready sets, and creating the “Sounds of KSHMR” sample pack series with Splice. In this riveting event, our students were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at how modern electronic music is built, refined, and brought to life by one of the industry’s brightest talents.

Special thanks to the creative and collaborative spirit of our Thornton faculty and industry partners who make events like these possible: Music Teaching & Learning Assistant Professor Candice D. Mattio and Meredith Allen, Director of Development & Education at Splice.

Photos: Sherman Tsang

02/19/2026

In this special presentation for University of Southern California USC Thornton School of Music, James Conlon, world-renowned maestro and longtime music director of LA Opera, traces how Giuseppe Verdi, a composer who deeply respected the distinctions between tragic and comic opera, ultimately returned to a challenge that had once frustrated him. Conlon explores how patience, artistic maturity, and Shakespeare’s enduring influence led Verdi to “Falstaff,” the most sophisticated comic opera in the Italian tradition. Part lecture, part listening session, Maestro Conlon leads us through this sonic journey of one of the great operas.

This USC event is a perfect way to prime your senses for LA Opera’s production of “Falstaff,” set for April 18th through May 10th, and is part of Maestro Conlon’s closing tenure as LA Opera’s Music Director after an incredible 20-year period. At the conclusion of this season, Maestro Conlon will have conducted 70 operas and over 525 performances with the company.

Free and open to the general public with an RSVP - link in the comments below. We hope to see you there!

02/03/2026

Between a breakup and a songwriting midterm, inspiration couldn’t have struck USC Thornton Popular Music Performance Major Sofia Gomez at a more perfect time.

“Without Me” is a culmination of not just Gomez’s personal experience and artistry, but the contributions from students across USC Thornton. From Sawyer Rabin's (‘27) production, Max Nguyen (‘27) on percussion and Sophia Condon (‘27) on background vocals, the Thornton Pop Program's campus network stitched together to form a tapestry of support that helped make the song a reality. This spirit of collaboration on Gomez’s work will carry into her next single, “All Yours,” from her forthcoming debut album to be released on Friday, February 13th.

Read more in our in-depth spotlight, written by Amelie Melsness (’27), USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism student, about the creation of “Without Me" and what makes the student songwriting experience so special at a place like USC Thornton.

Photo credit: Asher Hansow & Emily Mae