Since its founding in 1884, the USC Thornton School of Music has become the center of higher education in music in the western United States and ranks among the top five schools of music in the nation. Situated in the heart of the vital musical life of Los Angeles, the Thornton School of Music brings together a distinguished faculty and gifted students from around the world. It is in this wonderfully diverse cultural milieu that students are offered instruction in virtually all professional and scholarly branches of music, including instrumental and vocal performance, jazz, early music, conducting, composition, film scoring, music industry, music education, recording arts, pedagogy, choral and sacred music, conducting and opera. In addition to its major programs, the Thornton School of Music also offers a wide array of music minors and general interest courses for students majoring in other disciplines.
The USC Symphony, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Opera, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, Trojan Marching Band, Jazz Orchestra, Contemporary Music Ensemble, Early Music Ensemble and a wide variety of large and small choral and instrumental ensembles assure students the broadest performing experience. More than 500 formal and informal concerts and recitals are presented on campus each year and the school regularly presents eminent visiting artists and scholars in master classes, workshops, lectures, seminars and in performance.
Los Angeles is the home of numerous musical organizations whose performances contribute immeasurably to the cultural life of the region, and also the home of the nation’s major recording, radio, film and television industries. All offer abundant opportunities to the serious young musician.
Music Student Services
United University Church-B
(213) 740-4721
FAX: (213) 740-5950
Email: uscmusic@usc.edu
Assistant Dean: Debora Huffman
Undergraduate Studies
Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7703
Director: Stewart Gordon
Graduate Studies
Waite Phillips Hall 304
(213) 740-3211
Director: Bryan Simms
Music Admissions
United University Church 218
(213) 740-8986
FAX: (213) 740-8995
Assistant Dean:Christopher Sampson
Choral and Church Music
Music Faculty Building 416
(213) 740-7418
Chair: William Dehning
Classical Guitar
Music Faculty Building 305
(213) 740-7399
Chair: James Smith
Composition
Music Faculty Building 308
(213) 740-7416
Chair: Morten Lauridsen
Conducting
Music Faculty Building 312
(213) 740-3131
Acting Chair: Larry Livingston
Jazz Studies
Arnold Schoenberg Institute 204
(213) 740-3119
Chair: Shelton Berg
Keyboard Studies
Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7703
Chair: Stewart Gordon
Music History and Literature
Waite Phillips Hall 304
(213) 740-3211
Chair: Janet Johnson
Music Education
Waite Phillips Hall 302
(213) 740-3211
Chair: Patrice Madura
Music Industry
Music Faculty Building 416
(213) 740-3224
Chair: Richard McIlvery
Organ
Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7703
Chair: Ladd Thomas
Strings
Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7704
Chair: Ronald Leonard
Studio Guitar
Music Faculty Building 305
(213) 740-7399
Chair: Richard Smith
Vocal Arts
Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7704
Chair: Gary Glaze
Winds and Percussion
Music Faculty Building 308
(213) 740-7416
Chair: Terry Cravens
Electroacoustic Media
Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7703
Director: Dennis Thurmond
Keyboard Collaborative Arts
Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7703
Director: Alan Smith
Recording Arts
Music Faculty Building 416
(213) 740-3224
Director: Richard McIlvery
Scoring for Motion Pictures and Television
Music Faculty Building 308
(213) 740-7416
Director: Norman D. (Buddy) Baker
Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz
Arnold Schoenberg Institute 1
(213) 821-1500
Director: Ronald McCordy
All departments may be reached by writing to:
USC Thornton
School of Music
Music Faculty Building
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0851
FAX: (213) 740-3217
Administration
Larry J. Livingston, M.M., Dean
Susan M. Benedict, M.B.A., Assistant Dean for Administration
Debora L. Huffman, Ed.D., Assistant Dean for Academic Services
Christopher B. Sampson, M.M., Assistant Dean for Admission and Financial Aid Faculty
Faculty
Gregor Piatigorsky Chair in Violoncello: Ronald Leonard, Dipl.
Professors: Arthur C. Bartner, Ed.D.*; Hans Beer; Shelton Berg, M.M.; Bruce Brown, Ph.D.; Terry Cravens, D.M.A.; Donald Crockett, Ph.D.*; William Dehning, D.M.A.; Gary Glaze, M.M.; Stewart Gordon, D.M.A.; Stephen Hartke, Ph.D.; James Hopkins, Ph.D.*; Morten Lauridsen, D.M.A.*; Frederick Lesemann, D.M.A.*; Larry Livingston, M.M.; Thom Mason, D.M.A.; Ronald McCurdy, D.M.A.; Donald McInnes, M.M.; John Perry, M.M.*; Daniel Pollack, M.S.*; Eleonore Schoenfeld*; Bryan Simms, Ph.D.*; Ladd Thomas, D.Mus.; Frank Ticheli, D.M.A.; James Tyler; Jay Zorn, D.M.E.
Associate Professors: Lynn Bielefelt, D.M.A. (Visiting); Gilbert Blount, Ph.D.; Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Art.Dipl.; Erik Forrester, M.M.; Yehuda Gilad, Dipl.; Janet Johnson, Ph.D.; Norman Krieger, Dipl.; Robert Lipsett, B.A.; M.M.; Patrice Madura, D.M.E.; Richard McIlvery, M.M.; Robert Moore, Ph.D.; Erica Muhl, D.M.A.; Giulio Ongaro, Ph.D.; Alan Smith, D.M.A.; James Smith, M.M.; Richard Smith, M.M.; John Thomas, M.M.; David Wilson, D.M.A.; Richard J. Wingell, Ph.D.
Assistant Professors: Peter Atherton, M.M. (Visiting); Maria Anna Harley, Ph.D.; Elizabeth Hynes, B.M.; Timothy Lindberg, M.M.; Cynthia Munzer, B.M.; Gail Niwa, M.M.; Frank Potenza, B.M.; Karl Swearingen, D.M.A.
Adjunct Professors: Norman “Buddy” Baker, D.M.A.; James Decker, A.A.; Vincent DeRosa; John T. Johnson, B.M.; David Raksin, M.A.; Cherry Rhodes, B.M.
Adjunct Associate Professors: Joel Timm, D.M.A.; JoAnn Turovsky, M.M.
Adjunct Assistant Professors: John Clayton, B.M.; David Howard, B.A.; Scott Tennant, M.M.; Dennis Trembly
Lecturers: Nico Abondolo; Lucina Agabian-Hubbard; David Arnay; John Barnett; Janet Beazley; Richard Bellis; William Biersach; Bernadene Blaha; Elizabeth Blumenstock; Timothy Boyle; Jeff Brabec; Todd Brabec; Carmen Bradford; Jon Burlingame; George Burt; Pat Caddick; Glenn Carlos; David Carpenter; Lucinda Carver; Martin Chalifour; Polli Chambers-Salazar; Ndugo Chancler; Jacob Christian; Jeff Clayton; Patricia Cloud; Jay Cooper; Rose Corrigan; Bill Cunliffe; Neal Desby; Theresa Dimond; Joe Diorio; Timothy Emmons; Bruce Eskovitz; Judith Farmer; Anne Farnsworth; Gregg Field; Ralph Fielding; Angel Figueroa; Anthony Fox; Andrew Garver; Kirill Gliadkovsky; Pamela Goldsmith; Mark Goldstein; Sara Graef; Rakefet Hak; Mitchell Hanlon; Joe Harnell; Brian Head; Boyde Hood; Ed Kalnins; Pat Kelley; William Kanengiser; Brian King; Tim Kobza; Miran Kojian; Milcho Leviev; Kenneth Lopez; Jonathan Mack; Gary Mannon; Peter Marsh; Shigemi Matsumoto; Stephen Maxym; Thomas Beno May; Janice McVeigh; Vince Mendoza; David Moore; Kristy Morrell; Barbara Northcutt; David Oakes; Alan Pasqua; John Paton; Byron Peebles; Antoinette Perry; Elvia Puccinelli; Mary Rawcliffe; Louise Reichlin; Young Riddle; Leonard Rosenmann; James Rštter; Daniel Rothmuller; Chris Rozé; I-Chuun Ru; Willis Schaefer; James Self; Aaron Serfaty; Bob Sheppard; Bobby Shew; Jack Smalley; David Spear; Nick Stoubis; Nick Strimple; Tierney Sutton; Chris Taylor; Lyndon Taylor; Dennis Thurmond; Richard Todd; Stephen Trovato; Allan Vogel; Fred Vogler; Jacques Voyemant; James Walker; David Weiss; Terry Woodson; Gary Woodward; Suli Xue; Nancy Yamagata; Christopher Young; Michele Zukovsky
Emeritus Professors: Nancy Bricard, M.M.*; Arend Koole, D.Litt. et Phil.; Mitchell Lurie; William A. Schaefer, M.A.; Margaret Schaper, M.M.*; Alice Schoenfeld*; Eudice Shapiro; William Thomson, Ph.D.
*Recipient of university-wide or school teaching award.