USC Thornton School of Music

08/31/2026

Sonder Music Group didn’t start out as a concert promoter trusted by the likes of Interscope Records and CAA, but its talent, determination, and strategic understanding has made the company a major cultural force in LA’s music scene. A group of driven USC Thornton Music Industry majors began sharing advice on talent management their freshman year, and as the shows they promoted for their rosters took off, they rode that wave, all the way up to concerts headlined by quannic, Truman Sinclair (Music Production, BM ‘24), Leyla Ebrahimi, and more.

“Right now, our focus is simple: build a community month by month with a uniquely personal fan to artist experience,” Sonder says, to “become a key source for artist discovery amidst the era of algorithmic noise.”

Read more at our Spotlight feature written by USC Annenberg student Amelie Melsness:

Sonder Music Group, a USC Thornton Music Industry major-run company, emerges as a power player in LA’s live music scene.

08/06/2026

Congratulations to USC Thornton Composition alumnus Anuj Bhutani on receiving the 2026 Princess Grace Award – Robert and Gloria Hausman Honor in Theater from the Princess Grace Foundation!

Presented annually to emerging artists in theater, dance, and film, the Princess Grace Awards recognize exceptional talent and help support the next generation of creative leaders. Bhutani was honored for his work as a composer as he continues developing “MANU”, a new music-theater work commissioned by Beth Morrison, that brings together his passions for music and storytelling.

“Receiving the Princess Grace Award at this moment in my career is unbelievable,” says Bhutani. “As I'm just turning to the world of music-theater, the recognition from the Princess Grace Foundation at this stage is incredibly profound. Getting this kind of affirmation from the field is both validating and very motivating, and I imagine this recognition will be a huge catalyst for the development of “MANU” and my overall growth as an artist and person.”

Photo credit: (1) Courtesy of the artist; (2-3) Jill Steinberg/Beth Morrison Projects; (4) Loreen Sarkis/Capture Imaging, Inc.

07/27/2026

Congratulations to all our Thornton alumni nominated at the 78th Television Academy Primetime Emmy® Awards! 👏✨

From original music & lyrics to music supervision, sound mixing, and sound editing, Thornton alumni continue to lead the industry by shaping television's most iconic productions. Join us in celebrating this year's nominees as we recognize their outstanding achievements.

Here are our alumni nominated this year:

Carlos Rafael Rivera – Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for “Hacks” (Episode: EGOT / Song Title: “Mis Figuritas”)

David Stal – Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for “Hacks” (Episode: EGOT / Song Title: “Mis Figuritas”); Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Comedy or Drama Series (Half-Hour) and Animation (Scoring Mixer) for “Hacks” (Episode: “The Garden”)

Chris Lennertz - Outstanding Original Music And Lyrics for “The Boys” (Episode “The Frenchman, The Female, And The Man Called Mother's Milk / Song Title: “Raise Him Up”)

Michael Abels - Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music for “The ‘Burbs”

Toko Nagata - Outstanding Music Supervision for “Widow’s Bay” (Episode: “Beach Reads”)

Eli Brueggemann - Outstanding Music Direction for “Saturday Night Live” (Episode: Jack Black hosts)

Jeff Toyne - Outstanding Music Composition For A Series for “Palm Royale” (Original Dramatic Score) (Episode: “Maxine Drinks Martinis Now”)

Sara Barone - Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Or Anthology Series, Movie Or Special for “The Beast In Me” (Original Dramatic Score) (Episode: “The Beast and Me)

Ben Schor - Outstanding Sound Editing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (One Hour) as Music Editor for “Alien: Earth” (Episode: “Neverland”)

John W. Cook II - Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie as Re-Recording Mixer for “DTF St. Louis” (Episode: “Amphezyne”); Outstanding Sound Mixing For A Comedy Or Drama Series (Half-Hour) And Animation for “Hacks” (Episode: “The Garden”)

We'd also like to give a special shout-out to several friends in our Thornton Community whose outstanding work was also recognized with Emmy nominations this year:

USC Thornton Creative Vanguard Artist Raphael Saadiq - nominated for Outstanding Music Composition For A Documentary/Nonfiction Or Reality Program (Original Dramatic Score) for “High Horse: The Black Cowboy” (Episode: F*ck Westerns)

Thornton friend and non-degreed alum Thomas Newman - Outstanding Music Composition For A Limited Or Anthology Series, Movie Or Special (Original Dramatic Score) for “In The Blink of an Eye”

Thornton friend and former Adjunct Professor Jonathan Leahy - Outstanding Music Supervision for “Nobody Wants This” (Episode: “When Noah met Joanne”)

Join us in congratulating our nominees in the comments below! 👏🎬🎶

07/08/2026

The USC Thornton Chamber Singers had the amazing opportunity to bring their studies overseas earlier this summer, where they met and collaborated with various choirs in a tour throughout Hong Kong.

“This tour was the final stop on my journey with USC’s choirs since joining Chamber Singers in Fall 2022,” says student Kaitlyn Son. “I couldn’t have asked for a better experience! My biggest appreciation goes out to the people of Hong Kong and the staff at HKCIF. We were met with smiles, eager audiences, and a genuine appreciation for music wherever we went.”

Led by Choral Music chair Cristian Grases, the Chamber Singers is the premier choral ensemble at Thornton, and has performed in world-renowned concert halls around the globe. From Walt Disney Hall to Carnegie Hall, the Chamber Singers perform music from diverse latitudes and cultures across eras, developing artistic flexibility and awareness amongst the community.

Swipe through to experience their journey overseas!

07/02/2026

Congratulations to recent alumnus and 2026 Outstanding Graduate Ben Beckman (MM ‘26) on the founding of Park City Opera, a joint venture between Beckman as Artistic Director, Lena Goldstein as Executive Director, and Lisl Wangermann as Development Director.

A non-profit founded in 2024, Park City Opera emphasizes accessibility and a modern approach to how Opera is consumed by audiences.

“Accessibility is about not undercutting your audience, programming difficult music when you need to program difficult music, but giving everyone the tools to engage with it.”

Beckman’s passion for music, both as an artist and scholar, allowed him to be successful in a business venture like Park City Opera while continuing his education simultaneously as a Thornton student.

“When I applied to grad school, I thought I needed to stop doing all these other things and focus on spending two years composing…and then I got into USC and they said, ‘No, we took you because we want you to pursue piano and all of these other interests.”

This summer, Park City Opera continues its second season with productions including Copland’s “The Tender Land” and Gounod’s “Roméo et Juliette”.

Learn more from the article found on our website:
https://music.usc.edu/spotlights/ben-beckman-park-city-opera/

***

All photos courtesy of Park City Opera/Ben Beckman.

07/01/2026

Today we remember friend and special guest of USC Thornton – legendary record executive Clive Davis.

We’re sharing some of the wisdom he offered to our students during a March 2026 discussion with colleague and Dean of the Thornton School, Jason King.

Read more about this special conversation here:
https://music.usc.edu/spotlights/remembering-clive-davis/

06/24/2026

USC Thornton School of Music Choral Music alumnus Mack Wilberg (BM ’81, MM ’85) will be conducting the world-renowned, 360-member, The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, along with the 200-member Orchestra at Temple Square in their historic return to The Hollywood Bowl on June 24th and 25th. The performances mark the 100-year anniversary of the Choir’s first performance at the bowl in 1926.

After receiving his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from USC Thornton, Wilberg has gone on to win numerous awards as a composer and arranger including the Brock Commission Award from the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He has been the director of The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square since 2008.

USC students can use the promo code “FRIENDS” on the Hollywood Bowl’s website to get 2 complimentary tickets to see The Tabernacle Choir’s performance on June 24th or 25th.

06/19/2026

Film composer and USC Thornton alumnus Ludwig Göransson continues his acclaimed collaboration with filmmaker Christopher Nolan in the upcoming film “The Odyssey,” arriving in theaters this July.

Known for his innovative approach to storytelling through music, Göransson has helped define the sonic worlds of Nolan's recent films, including “Tenet” and the Academy Award-winning “Oppenheimer.”

“The music is definitely a very unique world and I hope people are able to be a part of it and fully immerse themselves.”

In discussing his work on “The Odyssey,” Göransson reflects on the creative challenges of building a completely new musical landscape for the film.

“In order to create this completely original world, I also had to get out of my comfort zone and find sounds that I haven’t worked with before.”

Swipe through to hear more about Göransson's creative process and the music behind one of this summer's most anticipated films. 🎬🎶 Catch “The Odyssey” in theaters beginning July 17th!

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.