One of the strongest assets of a USC Thornton education is the personal network of contacts shared by alumni around the world. This area of the Thornton Web site allows you to keep in touch with classmates and colleagues and learn about alumni events.
USC Thornton Online Alumni Directory
The Directory Has Arrived!
Made specifically with Music School alumni in mind, the Online Directory allows alums to maintain a profile, search for former classmates, and receive news updates. Click on the link below to access the system.
Thornton Online Alumni Directory
USC Thornton at the 2009 GRAMMY Awards
Several alumni, faculty, and board of advisors members were recognized by the 2009 GRAMMY Awards. For a complete list of Thornton Grammy Award recipients and nominees,
click here.
Thornton Alumni in the News
- February 7, 2009
SANTA MARIA TIMES: Courtney Huffman (MM '07) will appear in Santa Maria Philharmonic's upcoming production of
La Traviata where will sing the principal role of Violetta. Huffman will also make her New York solo recital debut at Carnegie Hall in June, the article noted.
- February 5, 2009
PANTAGRAPH.COM: Jazz vocalist
Sara Gazarek (BS '04) headlined the GLT Jazz Masters Concert at Illinois State University's Center for the Performing Arts on February 7, 2009. Her achievements at USC Thornton earned her a Best Collegiate Vocalist award in the Downbeat Student Music Awards and an invitation to join the prestigious Concord Jazz Festival Tour in 2003, the article stated.
- February 3, 2009
ALL ABOUT JAZZ: Greg Reitan (BM '96) had his new CD, "Some Other Time," reviewed in
All About Jazz. Reitan, a pianist and composer, attended USC Thornton as an Herb Alpert Merit and Dean's Scholar, the article noted. The USC Thornton Symphony has also performed two of his works: Clarinet Concerto: In Three Movements and Los Angeles Fanfare. The article stated, "Greg Reitan's debut CD is imbued with his impressive and expansive education and experience, and delivered with the elegance of a master musician."
- January 23, 2009
DOWNEY PATRIOT: Pianist and organist
Christopher Martin (BA '05) was featured in the debut concert of the 2009 Celebration Concert Series, sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church of Downey. The concert featured Martin in his debut concert on the Rodgers 788 2-Manual digital organ; the concert's repertoire spanned the centuries and showcased the full range of the organ’s capabilities, the article noted.
- June 13, 2008
PRESS-TELEGRAM:
Thornton alum and composer
Sam Spence (DMA '50) conducted a four-movement suite from his National Football League music called "Sabers and Six-guns" at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro for the "Pops for Pop" concert June 13, 2008. He also conducted the world premiere of a fight song for his alma mater, USC, that is based on his football music, and which he has donated to the school. Spence has been composing music for NFL Films since 1966 and has also written music for "The Simpsons," "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "The King of Queens." Steven Allen Fox, artistic director of the Golden State Pops Orchestra said of Spence, "When he gets up on the podium, he is very intellectual and sophisticated, full of fire and humor."
- May 30, 2008
VARIETY: Thornton alumnus and composer
Bear McCreary (BM '02) was recently featured in
Variety for his work on the hit Sci-Fi Channel show, "Battlestar Galactica." For four seasons and over 70 episodes, McCreary has been composing for the show, offering some of the most innovative music on television. "Musically, 'Galactica' pushes me," McCreary stated. "I am constantly being asked to develop and change. That is against the instincts of a lot of television music, which is to set up a sound and stick with it. I'm being asked to take risks and make daring musical decisions that, on another show, would get you fired."
- March 28, 2008
THE LDS NEWSROOM: Two-time USC alumnus
Dr. Mack Wilberg (MM '81, DMA '85) was officially named as the new music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. "As music director, Wilberg will oversee all musical and creative aspects of the choir, the Orchestra at Temple Square, the Temple Square Chorale and the Bells on Temple Square, including selecting repertoire for concerts, recordings and tours and providing the creative direction for the weekly
Music and the Spoken Word broadcast."
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