USC Chamber Singers 2008-2022

02/03/2025

Today is the birthday of Langston Hughes. My parents adored him, personally and professionally; my father set a number of his poems to music. From thewymaninstitute.org: "Author and poet Langston Hughes (1902-1967) was one of a number of prominent African-American supporters of the Bergson Group. He served as one of the honorary “Sponsors” of the group’s Emergency Conference to Save the Jewish People of Europe, in 1943."
And this is a bit of history I did not know, but my friend David Amram was involved in:
https://forward.com/culture/310241/he-sang-jewish-america/

There are good people at all times in all places. Let's try to remember that today.

11/07/2024

Thinking about my students and those Singers I have conducted. This is for you as we enter a difficult time.

USC Thornton Chamber Singers performing "True Colors" live in Estonia during the 2018 Tour of the Baltic's.

08/26/2024

Stacey V. Gibbs - new setting of "Elijah" published by Walton Music. USC Thornton Chamber Singers St Paul the Apostle Catholic Community Late April 2022, just prior to the Chamber SInger Tour to Ireland.

08/25/2024

One of my last concerts with the USC Thornton Chamber Singers took place in April of 2022 at St Paul the Apostle Catholic Community near Westwood. Through the kindness of Dr. Jeffrey Parola, we were able to use the beautiful sanctuary, and "Let My Love Be Heard" by Jake Runestad was on the program. Please take a listen to this selection from the concert.

03/20/2024

Congratulations to Daniel Brinsmead, Stacey V. Gibbs, and Hyeyoung Cho on their recent compositions being selected by JW Pepper in the Editor's Choice Category all published by Santa Barbara Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Inc. Daniel Brinsmead's compositions: Just One Step SSA and soon SAB (SBMP 1774) and Rain, Rain! (SBMP 1765) SSA, Stacey V. Gibbs STAB setting of Ride the Chariot (SBMP 1759) and new to Santa Barbara Publishing HyeYoung Cho's SATB setting of Evocation (SBMP 1780). Find them on the Santa Barbara Music Website:

Music Publisher Dedicated to Nurturing the Choral Art - View complete scores, hear recordings, watch performance videos and view samples from educational DVDs & Books at SBMP.COM

02/05/2024

Congratulations to Dr. Alexander Lloyd Blake Lloyd Blake and Tonality on their Grammy Award last night.

12/31/2023

06/27/2023

Dear USC Thornton Chamber Singers,

The sudden loss of Dr. Stephen Black last evening is unimaginable. Stephen was brilliant student, exceptional scholar and a kind soul. He received his DMA in Choral Music from USC in 2015. I was honored to be his dirssertation supervisor. Stephen loved the music of Frederick Delius. He received his Masters in Music from Yale and his undergraduate degree from the University of Louisville.

He returned home to Louisville to take care of his mother and was teaching at Bellarmine University and was director of music at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. All who knew Stephen Black will remember most of all his quiet demeanor and wonderful connection with all he met.

In Paradisum deducant te Angeli
in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres
et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem.
Chorus Angelorum te suscipiant
et cm Lazaro quondam paupere
aeternam habeas requiem.

04/05/2023

Congratulations to two University of Southern California DMA graduates, Dr. Yejee Choi, and Dr. Shou Ping Liu, who have been appointed to new academic positions this fall.

Dr. Yeeje Choi, who is currently at the University of the Pacific in Stockton California as Director of Choral Activities as an Assistant Professor have been appointed as Associate Professor of Choral Activities at Ehwa Women's University in Seoul, South Korea. She will be replacing retiring DCA, Dr. ShinHwa Park, who also served at the conductor of the Ansan City Choir. [Photo on the Left]

Dr. Shou Ping Liu, who is currently the Director of Choral Activities at Union College in Albany, New York has been appointed as an Assistant Professor, the Director of Choral Activities and Director of Orchestral Studies at Connecticut College located in New London Connecticut. {Photo on the Right]

Mary and I are incredibly proud of these two former USC Thornton students and three year members of the USC Thornton Chamber Singers..

Fight On! | Sing On!

09/12/2020

Jo-Michael Scheibe interview with Jason Max Ferdinand on “Programming in Perilous Times”

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