The banner shown above is one of many that decorates the entire campus this year. I am so happy Thornton is finally getting the school-wide recognition it deserves--we're not brainless musicians, really.
This year marks the 125th birthday of the USC Thornton School of Music. The USC School of Music was the first professional school at the University of California in 1884, and in 1999, philanthropist Flora L. Thornton became the schools benefactor. It has evolved as one of the top music schools in the country; not only does it have a storied tradition in classical performance studies of all major instruments, but the music industry, recording science, jazz studies, popular music, and scoring for motion pictures and television degrees are some of the most innovative in higher level music education.
Last week was one of the first events of the celebratory year at Thornton. The opening gala, followed by a rousing performance of Berlioz's Symphony Fantastique made for quite a party.
As a current student of the Thornton School, I feel so honored to be a part of this magical time for our school. In many well-reputed music conservatories, the traditional classical music training is the single most important aspect of music, and their world is filled with ruthless competition, burnt out passions and emotionally unstable soloists. Not only does USC foster classical musicians to develop their skills and passion for music, it also has adapted to the evolving nature of the art form.
The story in the LA Times "Culture Monster" blog, reporter David Ng mentions the various gifts given to the Thornton school, which are to be used for student scholarships, in addition to one special gift: a piano that belonged to Jascha Heifetz.
There will be more events throughout the year--the next being a special concert by the classic rock legends, the Steve Miller Band, which will be a benefit for the school.
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