Since its founding by Charles Hirt in 1946, the USC Thornton Department of Choral and Sacred Music has been among the world's leaders. Our department boasts alumni distinguished by the diversity of their contributions to the choral art, including music directors of renowned professional ensembles such as the Los Angeles Master Chorale, directors of choral activities at leading university schools o
f music, such as the University of Michigan, and composers of choral music published by Oxford University Press, ECS Publishing, Peer International, Faber & Faber, and Walton. Our faculty sets the international standard for choral conducting, literature, and composition. Jo-Michael Scheibe is a past -President of ACDA, and is in constant demand as a choral clinician internationally. Nick Strimple authored the leading books on nineteenthand twentieth-century choral literature, and regularly appears internationally as a lecturer, composer, and conductor. Cristian Grases is on the Board of Directors of the International Choral Federation and is a frequent clinician at all-state festivals. Morten Lauridsen is the country's most distinguished composer of choral music and recipient of the National Medal of Arts. Tradition beckons. Your future is here.
