PDF reflects print USC Thornton School of Music
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Distinguished Professor of Composition Morten
Lauridsen, a faculty member at the USC Thornton School of Music for more
than 30 years and a three-time USC alumnus, was awarded the National
Medal of Arts in November 2007. It is the highest award given to arts
and art patrons by the U.S. government, and recognizes Lauridsen's
preeminent place in choral music of the 20th century. He is the first
USC professor to win the award, and joins two other distinguished alumni
— mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne '53 and architect Frank Gehry '54 — who
were honored in 1992 and 1998, respectively.
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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 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, musicology, music education, 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 Thornton Symphony, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Opera, Wind Ensemble, 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 Affairs
United University Church-B(213) 740-4721
FAX: (213) 740-5950
Email: studentaffairs@thornton.usc.edu
Director: Debra Penberthy
Music Admissions
United University Church 218(213) 740-8986
FAX: (213) 740-8995
Email: uscmusic@thornton.usc.edu
Assistant Dean: Phillip Placenti
Doctoral Programs
Music Faculty Building 415(213) 740-2774
FAX: (213) 740-2714
Email: dhuffman@thornton.usc.edu
Associate Dean: Debora Huffman
Choral Music
Music Faculty Building 308
(213) 740-7418
Chair: Jo-Michael ScheibeClassical Guitar
Music Faculty Building 304
(213) 740-7399
Chair: James SmithComposition
Music Faculty Building 308
(213) 740-7416
Chair: Donald CrockettConducting
Music Faculty Building 308
(213) 740-7416
Chair: Larry LivingstonJazz Studies
Music Faculty Building 304
(213) 740-3119
Chair: Thom MasonKeyboard Studies
Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7703
Chair: Alan SmithMusicology
Waite Phillips Hall 304
(213) 740-3211
Chair: Bryan SimmsMusic Education
Waite Phillips Hall 302
(213) 740-3211
Chair: Gwendolyn McGrawMusic Industry
Music Faculty Building 305
(213) 740-3224
Email: scmusind@usc.edu
Chair: Richard McIlveryOrgan
Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7703
Chair: Ladd ThomasStrings
Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7703
Chair: Midori GotoStudio Guitar
Music Faculty Building 304
(213) 740-7399
Chair: Frank PotenzaVocal Arts
Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7704
Chair: Elizabeth HynesWinds and Percussion
Music Faculty Building 308
(213) 740-7416
Chair: Terry CravensKeyboard Collaborative Arts
Ramo Hall of Music 112
(213) 740-7703
Director: Alan SmithScoring for Motion Pictures and Television
Music Faculty Building 305
(213) 821-4192
Email: smptv@usc.edu
Director: Brian KingAll departments may be reached by writing to:
Music Faculty Building
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0851
FAX: (213) 740-3217
Email: uscmusic@usc.edu
www.usc.edu/music
Administration
Robert A. Cutietta, D.Ed., DeanDebora L. Huffman, Ed.D., Associate Dean for Doctoral Programs and Alumni Relations
Susan Miltner Lopez, M.B.A., Associate Dean for Administration and Finance
Giulio Ongaro, Ph.D., Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs
Christopher Sampson, M.M., Associate Dean for External Relations
Jeffrey de Caen, B.A.,
Phillip Placenti, M.P.A.,
Faculty
Jascha Heifetz Chair in Music: Midori Goto, B.S.Gregor Piatigorsky Chair in Violoncello: Ralph Kirshbaum, B.A.
Professors: Arthur C. Bartner, Ed.D.*; Bruce Brown, Ph.D.; Terry Cravens, D.M.A.; Donald Crockett, Ph.D.*; Robert A. Cutietta, D.Ed.; Gary Glaze, M.M.; Stewart Gordon, D.M.A.; Frederick Lesemann, D.M.A.*; Larry Livingston, M.M.; Thom Mason, D.M.A.; Ronald McCurdy, Ph.D.; Donald McInnes, M.M.; Erica Muhl, D.M.A.; Giulio Ongaro, Ph.D.; John Perry, M.M.*; Daniel Pollack, M.S.*; Frank Potenza, M.M.; Jo-Michael Scheibe, D.M.A.; Bryan Simms, Ph.D.*; Alan Smith, D.M.A.; Richard Smith, M.M.; Ladd Thomas, D.Mus.; Frank Ticheli, D.M.A.
Associate Professors: Ken Cazan, B.F.A.; Kevin Fitz-Gerald, Art.Dipl.; Erik Forrester, M.M.; Yehuda Gilad, Dipl.; Elizabeth Hynes, B.M.; Norman Krieger, Dipl.; Gwendolyn McGraw, D.M.A.; Richard McIlvery, M.M.; Robert Moore, Ph.D.; Cynthia Munzer, B.M.; Alan Pasqua, B.M.; James Smith, M.M.; James Thatcher, B.A.; John Thomas, M.M.
Assistant Professors: Joanna Demers, Ph.D.; Adam Gilbert, Ph.D.; Rod Gilfrey, M.M.; Brent McMunn, M.M.; Richard Schmunk, D.M.A.; Hagai Shaham, Dipl.; Brian Shepard, D.M.A.; Magen Solomon, D.M.A.; Nick Strimple, D.M.A.; Sheila Woodward, Ph.D.; Mina Yang, Ph.D.
Assistant Professors of Clinical: Andrew Garver; Mark Goldstein; Susan Helfter; Brian King; Ken Lopez; John Whitener
Adjunct Professors: Martin Chalifour; Peter Erskine; Pamela Goldsmith; Endre Granat; Don Green; Richard Kraft; Robert Lipsett; Eddie Meadows; Norman Pearson; H. Robert Reynolds; Cherry Rhodes; Pepe Romero; James Self; Jack Smalley; Carl St. Clair; Dennis Trembly; Allan Vogel; Bill Watrous; David Weiss; Suli Xue; Michele Zukovsky
Adjunct Associate Professors: David Howard; Peter Stumpf; Scott Tennant; Jo Ann Turovsky
Adjunct Assistant Professors: Nico Abondolo; David Anglin; David Arnay; Margaret Batjer; Elizabeth Blumenstock; Jon Burlingame; Polli Chambers-Salazar; Leon Ndugu Chancler; Rose Corrigan; Neal Desby; Judith Farmer; Anne Farnsworth; Russell Ferrante; Angel Figueroa; Parmer Fuller; John Hayhurst; Lucina Hubbard; Paul Huybrechts; Monica Kaenzig; Adam Kofler; Miran Kojian; Shigemi Matsumoto; Joel McNeely; Vincent Mendoza; David Moore; Kristy Morrell; Leah Morrison; Kim Richmond; Daniel Rothmuller; James Rötter; Aaron Serfaty; Robert Sheppard; Chris Stone; Lisa Sylvester; Jacques Voyemant; Gary Woodward; Chris Young
Adjunct Instructors: Ted Ancona; Peter Anthony; Amy Bowers; Jayne Campbell; Gilbert Castellanos; Joel Clifft; Christina DeMore; Sean Dougall; Bruce Forman; Steve Gates; Rotem Gilbert; Kathleen Grace; Yih-Mei Hu; Dean Immel; Alphonso Johnson; Steve Juliani; Patrick Kirst; Tim Kobza; Kristen Korb; Charles Koster; Jonathan Mack; Roy McCurdy; Lennie Moore; Vicki Muto; Sung-Hwa Park; Michael Powers; Christopher Sampson; Eric Schmidt; Paul Sherman; William Skeen; Douglas Tornquist; Tina Vartanian; David Wilkinson; Shannon Zusman
Senior Lecturers: William Biersach; Bernadene Blaha; Lucinda Carver; John Clayton; Steve Cunningham; Brian Head; Boyde Hood; William Kanengiser; Pat Kelley; Sharon Lavery; Peter Marsh; Janice McVeigh; Antoinette Perry; Nick Stoubis; Dennis Thurmond; Joel Timm; Stephen Trovato; James Walker
Full-Time Lecturers: David Fick; Jason Goldman; Veronika Krausas; Chris Roze; Mark Weiser
Emeritus Professors: Nancy Bricard, M.M.*; James Hopkins, Ph.D.; 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.; James Tyler; James Vail, D.M.A.
Degree Programs
The Thornton School of Music offers professional and academic degrees at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral levels. These degrees are summarized below.Bachelor of Music: Students working toward this professional degree have a wide choice of specializations: composition, music industry, instrumental performance, jazz studies, and vocal arts. Students can take either a single major program or double majors in several combinations such as piano and composi-tion, string, or percussion instrument. The two majors must be offered by different departments but lead to the same degree (for example, Bachelor of Music). Double majors consisting of two majors in the same department are not permitted. The degree is granted by the Thornton School of Music.
Bachelor of Arts: This degree is for students with a strong music background but who wish to combine professional music training with substantial study in other disciplines.
Bachelor of Science: Offered by the Thornton School of Music in the specialized area of music industry.
Minors in Music: Seven different minors in music are offered, each approaching the discipline from a unique perspective and with a distinct curriculum: Jazz Studies, Musical Studies (Performance), Musical Theatre, Music Industry, Music Recording, Popular Music Studies, and Songwriting.
Master of Music: This is a professional degree that represents proficiency in one area of musical practice and relevant knowledge in musical literature, performance and technique. It requires a minimum of 30 graduate units, of which 15 must be at the 500 level or higher. Students complete either a thesis or recital(s) as part of the degree requirements. The degree can be earned in choral music, composition, conducting, music education, keyboard collaborative arts, guitar, jazz studies, organ, piano, voice or instrumental performance. The degree is granted by the Thornton School of Music.
Master of Arts: This degree, offered through the Graduate School in conjunction with the Thornton School of Music, stresses music history or early music performance, with emphasis on scholarly research.
Doctor of Musical Arts: This is a professional degree that represents the highest level of expertise in a major field of musical practice and competence in several additional areas. Students may specialize in choral music, composition, jazz studies, music education, vocal or instrumental performance.
Doctor of Philosophy: Offered through the Graduate School, this is an academic degree in the field of historical musicology. A substantial background in music, research and languages is required.
Entrance to the Degree Programs
Admission to a degree program is granted through USC's admission process, described in the Admission section of this catalogue. A supplementary application form is also required for students seeking admission to the Thornton School of Music, which can be obtained from the School of Music Office of Admission.Applicants to a program within the school are screened by appropriate faculty selection committees that hold auditions, interviews and examine supportive materials. Letters of acceptance are issued by the USC Office of Admission.
Audition
A performance audition is required of applicants to most degree and certificate programs in the Thornton School of Music. Refer to individual curriculum listings for details.Graduate Record Examinations
Scores from the General Test of the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) are required for application and admission to the Master of Arts, Doctor of Musical Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. (The Music Subject Test is not required.) Test scores on the GRE that are more than five years old at the time of application are not accepted.Placement Tests
Undergraduate transfer students who have had formal study in any of the following areas must take the appropriate placement examination prior to their first registration: aural skills, theory, music history, conducting, analysis, orchestration and performance. The results of these examinations determine placement in appropriate sequential courses.Admission to Graduate Standing
Achievement tests in basic musical skills and areas of study (Music Graduate Entrance Examinations) are required of all entering graduate students during the first semester or summer session in residence. If all examinations are not passed by the end of two semesters of course work, then further registration must include remedial courses in all areas where deficiencies exist. In degree programs in which one recital is required, all entrance examinations must be passed or corresponding remedial course work completed with a minimum grade of B- before permission to present a graduate recital is given. In programs with two or more recitals, only the first may be given prior to passing all entrance examinations or completing corresponding remedial courses.Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
All applicants whose native language is not English are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Test scores that are more than two years old at the time of application are not accepted.Advanced Standing Credit for Music Taken in Accredited Schools of Music
Music courses completed with satisfactory grades in a member institution of the National Association of Schools of Music are acceptable for transfer. The university reserves the right, however, to require a student to take a placement test (at no cost) to determine the level of achievement in any given aspect of music, and to review the student's credentials at the end of one semester at USC to determine what credit will in fact be transferred.Advanced Standing Credit for Music Not Taken in Accredited Schools of Music
Students who wish credit for music taken in institutions not accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music must provide the Office of Admission with information on their prior work, showing the subjects studied, the number of lessons in each subject, the length of each lesson, number of years of study and the names of instructors. Such special requests are dealt with on an individual basis. Examinations or continuation work or both may be required before credit allowance is considered.General Requirements
All curricula leading to the Bachelor of Music, Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees require proficiency in performance. This is accomplished by individual instruction in the areas best suited to the student's ability and interests.Proficiency in piano is required in all curricula and may be achieved through class and/or individual instruction. Some curricula require competency in one additional performance medium.
Attendance at recitals in the field of the student's major is a regular part of the work in applied music for all music majors. Attendance at recitals is recommended for non-music majors who take individual instruction as an elective.