USC Thornton Alumni

USC Thornton alumna Anne Ranzani (’19, MM ’21, GCRT ’23) has joined the Long Beach Symphony as principal bassoonist. Ranzani performs across California as the principal bassoonist for the California Symphony and Monterey Symphony, as well. At Thornton, she studied under the tutelage of Winds & Percussion faculty members Judith Farmer and Shawn Mouser.

Anne Ranzani wins principal bassoon position with Long Beach Symphony - USC Thornton School of Music USC Thornton alumna Anne Ranzani ('19, MM '21, GCRT '23) has joined the Long Beach Symphony as principal bassoonist.

USC Thornton Choral & Sacred Music program alumna Shou-Ping Liu (DMA ‘20) will lead the New England Chamber Orchestra as artistic director during Connecticut Orchestra Month. The Concerto Night will take place on March 28 at Connecticut College, where Liu also serves as an assistant professor of music.

Artistic Director The Taiwanese-American conductor Shou Ping Liu has enjoyed a multi-faceted career that has brought her to the major concert halls of Europe and the United States.

USC Thornton Music Industry alumnus Frank Valverde and his wife proudly own the Valverde School of Performing Arts in Rancho Cucamonga, California, which they established in November 2005. This year, they are celebrating 20 successful years in the performing arts industry. To mark this milestone, the school is hosting a variety of special events. Among the highlights is an upcoming production of The Sound of Music at their local theater, featuring an impressive 29-piece orchestra and a talented cast of 35 performers.

The Sound of Music | Lewis Family Playhouse Valverde Stage Productions Inc. brings to life the timeless magic of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s beloved musical, The Sound of Music, in an enchanting production that will captivate audiences of all ages. This heartwarming tale follows the inspiring journey of Maria, a spirited young governess, as s...

Europe’s first majority Black and ethnically diverse orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra makes its Orange County debut under the baton of USC Thornton alum Vimbayi Kaziboni. This special performance will take place on April 4, 2025, at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Orange County.

Philharmonic Society of Orange County | Chineke! Orchestra with Aaron Azunda Akugbo The Chineke! Orchestra makes its Philharmonic Society debut performing Coleridge-Taylor's Symphony in A minor. Nigerian-Scottish trumpeter Aaron Azunda Akugbo joins the orchestra to perform Haydn's rousing Trumpet Concerto.

Remi Wolf (‘18), a USC Thornton Popular Music program alumna, was nominated for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist in the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards. The GLAAD Media Awards honor those in the media who have shown exemplary achievements for fair, accurate, and inclusive representation of the LGBTQ community and the issues that affect their lives.

https://music.usc.edu/remi-wolf-glaad-awards-36/
https://glaad.org/mediaawards/36/nominees/

Remi Wolf nominated at the GLAAD Media Awards - USC Thornton School of Music Remi Wolf (‘18), a USC Thornton Popular Music program alumna, was nominated for Outstanding Breakthrough Music Artist in the 36th Annual GLAAD Media Awards.

USC Thornton Jazz Studies alumnus Paul Cornish (‘18) has signed with Blue Note Records and will release his debut album this summer.

https://music.usc.edu/paul-cornish-signs-blue-note-records/
https://www.bluenote.com/pianist-paul-cornish-signs-with-blue-note/
https://www.winterjazzfest.com/1/11/25-brooklyn-marathon

USC Thornton Keyboard Studies alumnus Julian Jaeyoung Kim (DMA ‘24) will embark on a European tour this spring, performing a concert series of all-Beethoven programs.

Julian Jaeyoung Kim to perform Beethoven in European tour - USC Thornton School of Music USC Thornton Keyboard Studies alumnus Julian Jaeyoung Kim (DMA ‘24) will embark on a European tour this spring.

USC Thornton alumni Ben Gunnarson (MM ’24), Andrew Jacobi (MM ’14, GCRT ’16) and Mary La Blanc (’22) participated in the 60th Inauguration of the President of the United States on January 20, 2025.

https://music.usc.edu/thornton-alumni-60th-inauguration/

Composition alum Howard Yermish (MM ‘96) has been commissioned to write a piece for the Greater South Jersey Chorus. The work—scored for clarinet, marimba, soprano solo, chorus, and piano—sets poems by environmentalist Nnimmo Bassey and will premiere in May 2025.

On Our Watch | Greater South Jersey Chorus On Our Watch Sunday, May 4, 2025 at 3 pm Our planet has served humankind well and now summons us to sing on her behalf in recognition of our responsibility as guardians of Earth. Featuring sections of “The Peaceable Kingdom” by Randall Thompson, and “On Our Watch,” a commissioned piece by Ho...

USC Thornton Screen Scoring program graduate Chanda Dancy (GRCT ‘04) composed the score for the comedy film One of Them Days, released on January 17.

'One Of Them Days' soundtrack: every song in the new movie Keke Palmer and SZA form a buddy comedy duo in One Of Them Days, featuring songs by The O'Jays and Doechii.

Composer, trumpeter and USC Thornton Jazz Studies department alumnus Ambrose Akinmusire's (MM ‘07) new album, honey from a winter stone, is out now. The album features improvisational vocalist KOKAYI, pianist Sam Harris, Chiquitamagic on synthesizer, drummer Justin Brown and Mivos Quartet.
https://www.jazzwise.com/news/article/ambrose-akinmusire-releases-new-album-honey-from-a-winter-stone-in-january-2025
https://www.nonesuch.com/albums/honey-from-a-winter-stone

Ambrose Akinmusire releases new album 'honey from a winter stone' in January 2025 Top US trumpeter releases the follow up to his hugely acclaimed Owl Song with a new line up featuring his group and the Mivos Quartet