Clay Mettens is a composer and the Executive Coordinator of External Affairs at the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry. He has composed a new work in celebration of the School of Music's 100th anniversary that will premiere at the Freeman Sundays @3 concert on October 27, 2024.
We recently caught up with USC School of Music Alumni Baljinder Singh Sekhon, II to ask him some questions about his time at the USC School of Music.
Robert Rearden (Bachelor of Music, horn performance) is a member of the National Symphony Orchestra and he serves on the horn faculty and is the brass coordinator at the Peabody Institute. We recently caught up with Bob to ask him some questions about his time at the USC School of Music.
Blair Francis Paponiu (Bachelor of Music, flute performance) is the Associate Principal Flute with the San Francisco Symphony. We recently caught up with Blair to ask her some questions about her time at the USC School of Music.
Jeffrey Penn Johnson (Bachelor of Music, composition) is a full time composer working in film for such companies as DreamWorks, Cartoon Network and Disney. He is also a visual artist whose current works can be viewed at the Messengers Gallery in Santa Monica, CA.
Jessica Robinson Stinson (Bachelor of Music, violin performance) is professor of violin at Georgia State University. She also serves as acting assistant principal second violin with the Atlanta Opera Orchestra, and is violinist and founding member of the Mosaic Quartet.
Philip Snyder (Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts, flute) is Instructor of Flute at the University of Mississippi and Associate Producer at Spoleto Festival USA.
Our 2023 December Commencement Spotlight features Abigail Smith, who found her true passion and overcame challenges to become the first graduate of USC’s thriving musical theatre program.
Born and raised in Graniteville, South Carolina, Washington Isaac Holmes chose the University of South Carolina because he was the recipient of a full scholarship from the Graniteville Company and he chose the School of Music because of the people who taught, encouraged and believed in his talents as both a musician and singer.
Brittany Stone (Bachelor of Music, music education with a certificate in vocal performance) is the International Program Coordinator, Teaching Artist and Storytelling Coordinator at Broadway for Arts Education.
Our October 2023 alumni spotlight features Kevin Rogers, '09. Kevin is the founder and violinist in Friction Quartet, violinist in Ninth Planet and a rostered member in the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players.
Brian Wilmer is a Master Sergeant in the US Air Force and he and his wife Michelle, are both currently stationed with the USAFE (United States Air Forces in Europe) Band in Germany. They get to tour the continents of Europe and Africa performing music.
Eric L. Duncan graduated with a Bachelor of Music in composition in 1995. He is the Chief Technology Officer of Synergi Partners and co-owner of Columbia area restaurants Bourbon, Black Rooster and The Dragon Room.
Jessica Munch-Dittmar graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in music education in 2010. She is the Executive Director of the Greater Miami Youth Orchestra.
Elizabeth "Beth" Reed graduated with a Bachelor of Music in cello in 2001 and a Ph.D. in Music Education in 2018. She is the Executive Director of the National String Project Consortium and Assistant Professor of Instrumental Music Education and Area Coordinator at Miami University.
Grady Reginold "Reggie" Sullivan graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies in 2006. Reggie is a freelance musician and band leader based in South Carolina. We caught up with Reggie to discuss his time at the School of Music and current career.
Nicole Neely graduated with a Bachelor of Music in music education in 2005. She is a violinist, composer, producer and arranger based in Tennessee. She performed at the 2020 Grammy Awards with Lizzo, the 2022 Oscars with Beyonce and has performed at the CMA and ACM awards. Nicole has written for numerous tv shows and arranged for several A-listers.
Amy Hardison Tully graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts in flute performance in 2007. Tully is the Teresa Ann Carter King Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Texas Christian University. We recently caught up with Amy to discuss her time at the School of Music and current career.
Caitlyn Oenbrink Rainey graduate with a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance in 2012. She is a voice artist, Head of Customer Success at Altered AI and owner of Charleston Productions. Caitlyn lives in London, United Kingdom with her husband and 18-month-old son. We caught up with Caitlyn to discuss her time at the School of Music and current career.
Jamaal Nicholas is a recent graduate of the School of Music and is Director of Bands at Tuskegee University in Alabama. We recently caught up with Jamaal to ask him some questions about his time at the UofSC School of Music.
Andy Akiho is currently a renowned composer based in Oregon. We recently caught up with Andy to ask him some questions about his time at the UofSC School of Music.
Adam Kehl serves as Associate Director of Bands, Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, where he conducts the Symphonic Band and fall Concert Band, directs the Rainbow Warrior Marching Band and teaches courses in music education.
Gradi is currently the Fine Arts Director at the Geneva School of Boerne.
Cassandra is currently the Youth Orchestra Manager and Marketing Associate for the South Carolina Philharmonic.
Kerri is currently the assistant director of music at Northeast Presbyterian Church, on the teaching faculty of Town Theater and enjoys performing as often as she can.