ABOUT
About USC Thornton
The USC Thornton School of Music prepares students for successful careers in the 21st century, drawing upon an unparalleled history of artistry and scholarship established alongside the City of Angels.
Overview
Founded in 1884, the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music prepares students for successful careers in the 21st century. Our mission is defined by the pursuit of musical excellence, collaboration, and support.
USC Thornton blends the rigors of a traditional conservatory-style education with the intellectual ambition of a leading research university, students thrive as artists, performers, educators, and professionals while taking classes in other schools at USC. They often add a double major or a minor, and learn from esteemed faculty and students beyond the musical classroom and across the university.
With our location in the heart of Los Angeles, opportunities abound and students often build careers before they graduate. We are unique among our peers in the sheer diversity of music that is taught here—from early music to popular music, orchestral performance, screen scoring, jazz, composition, music industry, and more—all at the highest levels. Scroll down to learn more about USC Thornton.
Facts & Figures
Academics
USC Thornton offers courses for everyone whether you are embarking on a degree, earning a graduate certificate or artist diploma, considering a minor, or rounding out your electives.
Develop your skills with a graduate or undergraduate degree in our classical, contemporary, or scholarly & research programs.
Regardless of your major or level of experience, we invite you to study and create music at USC Thornton.
Designed for artists concentrating on the full-time development of their discipline, holding an undergraduate music education or its equivalent.
Join the Conversation
Attend an in-person or virtual information session with USC Thornton Office of Admissions to learn more about the application process.
Start Here. Go Anywhere.
Whether you dwell in the city or study abroad, USC and the Thornton School of Music offer resources to support your journey.
Los Angeles is home to over nine million people from more than 140 countries. USC Thornton’s location allows you to engage with this dynamic city via scholarship and practice.
USC Thornton belongs to a consortium of international schools of music and conservatories, creating global gateways for students.
USC Thornton Alumni
USC Thornton alumni consistently earn accolades for their work including GRAMMY, Tony, Grawemeyer and Pulitzer Prize Awards. No one career looks like another, and we train students for success in multiple career paths including classrooms, archives, studios, and leadership positions throughout the arts.
Featured Alumni
*denotes current faculty
Ambrose Akinmusire (MM ’07), jazz trumpet
Piotr Anderszewski (non-degreed alum), pianist
Miguel Atwood-Ferguson (BM ‘03), producer/arranger/studio musician
Alan Baer (non-degreed alum) principal tuba, New York Philharmonic
Alexander Lloyd Blake (DMA ’19), conductor/founder of Tonality
Peter Boyer (GCRT ’96), composer and orchestrator
Calder Quartet:
Benjamin Jacobson (BM ’01, MM ’07), violin
Andrew Bulbrook (BM ‘02), violin
Jonathan Moerschel (BM ’01, MM ’03), viola
Eric Byers (BM ‘03), cello
Lucinda Carver* (DMA ‘89), pianist
Billy Childs (BM ’79), composer/jazz pianist
Rozzi Crane (BM ’13), pop vocalist
Gerald Clayton (BM ’07), jazz pianist
Louis Cole (BM ‘09), jazz musician/drummer
Daedelus (Alfred Darlington) (BM ‘00), electronic DJ/producer
Sara Gazarek (BM ‘04), jazz vocalist
Grant Gershon (BM ‘85), conductor, Los Angeles Master Chorale
Rod Gilfry (BM ‘83), baritone
Renée Elise Goldsberry (MM ’97) singer/actress
Jerry Goldsmith, film composer
Ludwig Göransson (GCRT ’08), film and television composer, producer
Donald Green (BM ‘68), principal trumpet, Los Angeles Philharmonic
Mak Grgić (MM ’12, DMA ’16, GCRT ’20), classical guitarist
Los Angeles Guitar Quartet:
John Dearman (MM ‘83)
Matthew Greif (MM ’92)
William Kanengiser* (BM ‘81, MM ‘83)
Scott Tennant* (non-degreed alum)
Lionel Hampton (non-degreed alum), jazz musician
Ben Hong* (ASC ‘93) assistant principal cello, Los Angeles Philharmonic
Marilyn Horne (non-degreed alum), mezzo-soprano
James Horner (BM ‘74), film and television composer
Tommy Johnson (BA ’56), tuba
Vimbayi Kaziboni (BM ‘10), conductor
Michelle Kim, assistant concertmaster, New York Philharmonic
Morten Lauridsen (BA ‘66, MA ‘68, DMA ‘74), composer, Medal of the Arts recipient
Owen Lee (BM ‘92), principal bass, Cincinnati Symphony
Ryan Lerman (BM ‘09), guitarist
Charles Lloyd (BA ‘60), jazz musician
Petar Mandich (BS ‘10), talent manager
Michael Ke Ma (MM ‘05), assistant principal bassoon, Detroit Symphony
Martha Masters (DMA ‘00), classical guitarist
Jensen McRae (BM ‘19), popular music artist
Bear McCreary (BM ‘02), film and television composer
Angela Meade (MM ’04), soprano
Erica Miller (MM ‘04, DMA ‘07), soprano
MUNA:
Katie Gavin (BM ’15), singer
Josette Maskin (BM ‘16), guitar
Naomi McPherson (BM ‘15), guitar
James Newton Howard (non-degreed alum), film composer
Andrew Norman* (BM 02, MM ’04), composer
Christopher Parkening (non-degreed alum), classical guitarist
Dwight Parry (BM ‘01), principal oboe, Cincinnati Symphony
Norm Pearson (BM ‘81), principal tuba, Los Angeles Philharmonic
Cynthia Phelps (non-degreed alum), principal viola, New York Philharmonic
Gene Pokorny (BA ‘75), principal tuba, Chicago Symphony
Vicki Ray (DMA ‘88), piano chair, CalArts
Lee Ritenour (non-degreed alum), jazz guitarist/studio musician
Jessica Rivera (MM ’98), soprano
Daniel Rothmuller (non-degreed alum), associate principal cello, Los Angeles Philharmonic
Elizabeth Rowe (BM ‘96), principal flute, Boston Symphony
Patrice Rushen* (non-degreed alum), pop vocalist/pianist, musical director
Royce Saltzman (DMA ‘64), choral conductor
Gail Samuel (BA ‘89), executive director, Los Angeles Philharmonic Association
Tom Scott, jazz saxophonist
Nina Shekhar (MM ’20), composer/multimedia artist
Nadia Shpachenko-Gottesman (MM ‘99, DMA ‘04), pianist
Dale Hikawa Silverman (MM ‘77), associate principal viola, Los Angeles Philharmonic
Sheryl Staples (CRT ‘89), associate concertmaster, New York Philharmonic
Michael Tilson Thomas (BM ‘67, MM ‘76), conductor, San Francisco Symphony
Sunny Yang (MM ’10, GCRT ’12), cellist, Kronos Quartet
Cody Westheimer (BM ‘01), film composer
Austin Wintory (BM ‘07), composer
Remi Wolf (BM ‘18), popular music artist
Jenny Wong (MM ’13, DMA ’17), director, San Francisco Symphony Chorus
Lorna Zemke (MM ’68, DMA ’73), music educator
USC Thornton History
As the oldest continually operating cultural institution in Los Angeles, USC Thornton celebrates over a centennial of artistry and scholarship.
Philanthropist and arts patron Flora Laney Thornton is the namesake of USC’s Thornton School of Music.
The Thornton School of Music produced nearly half of USC’s first 100 graduates in 1884.
Dean Cutietta’s two-decade tenure expanded USC Thornton’s definition of a music school’s purpose.
Stay Connected
Each week, we send a recap of the latest events, news and updates at the USC Thornton School of Music. From student and alumni spotlights to our “Pick of the Week,” this is a great way to stay connected with USC Thornton and the Los Angeles music scene.