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School of Music

2026 News

School of Music Spring 2026 Awards Day

Our spring Awards Day ceremony recognizes the many accomplishments of our music community during the academic year. Congratulations to these recipients!

Saxophonist and Educator Awarded NASA Honorary Life Membership

USC professor of saxophone Clifford Leaman has been awarded Honorary Life Membership in the North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA). This honor recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to saxophone performance, teaching, scholarship, or repertoire.

USC School of Music Welcomes Five New Faculty Members for Fall 2026

Joining the faculty are Grace Elmer, Instructor of Guitar; Alex Davis, Instructor and Director of Recording Studies; Benjamin Pouncey, Instructor of Music and Assistant Director of Bands/Associate Director of Athletic Bands; Evan Powers, Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Choral Studies; and Craig Allen, Instructor of Music Theatre.

Two Music Faculty Members Receive Distinguished Recognition

Scott Price, Piano and Piano Pedagogy, has been selected by the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Board of Directors as the 2026 MTNA Teacher of the Year; Cormac Cannon, Director of Bands and Associate Professor of Music, has been named a member of the American Bandmasters Association.

New Musical Theatre Instructor Named

After an extensive search, Craig Allen has accepted the position of instructor of USC's musical theatre concentration.

A Freshman on Fire

Among USC Jazz Studies students, Harrison Chandler has quickly earned a nickname: "the freshman on fire." 

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