February 2026 Alumni Spotlight - Michael Ntwa Ydjumbwiths, '24
Michael Ntwa Ydjumbwiths, '24, (BM, voice) is an active opera singer and teaching artist currently working with the Atlanta Opera.
November 2025 Alumni Spotlight - Peter Geldrich, '20
Peter Geldrich, ’20 (DMA, clarinet performance with a minor in Music History), is Assistant Professor of Clarinet at the University of Florida. We recently caught up with Peter to ask him some questions about his time at the USC School of Music.
October 2025 Alumni Spotlight - Connie Frigo, ’05
Connie Frigo, ’05, (DMA, saxophone performance) is Executive Director and Professor of James Madison University’s X-Labs. We recently caught up with Connie to ask her some questions about her time at the USC School of Music.
September 2025 Alumni Spotlight - Benjamin J. Hipp, '01
We recently caught up with Ben to ask him some questions about his time at the USC School of Music, leading the marching band's alumni association, and his recent decision to leave a legacy for the Carolina Band through a planned gift.
May 2025 Alumni Spotlight - Lori Fogus Gooding, '95
Lori Gooding, '95, (Bachelor of Music in Music Education) is Associate Professor of Music Therapy and the Area Coordinator of the Music Education/Music Therapy Department at Florida State University. We recently caught up with Lori to ask her some questions about her time at the USC School of Music.
April 2025 Alumni Spotlight - JáTtik Clark, '97
JáTtik Clark, '97, (Bachelor of Music in Tuba Performance) is Principal Tubist for the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, Co-Principal Tubist for the Grand Teton Music Festival, Applied Tuba and Euphonium Instructor at Portland State University, and the Applied Tuba and Euphonium Co-Instructor at Oregon State University.
March 2025 Alumni Spotlight - Nola Jones, '06
Nola Jones, '06, (Doctor of Musical Arts in Wind Band Conducting) is an educational consultant, and recently retired from serving as the Director of Visual and Performing Arts for Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. We recently caught up with Nola to ask her some questions about her time at the USC School of Music.
February '25 Alumni Spotlight - Cecil L. Adderley, III, '96
Cecil Adderley, '96, (Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education) is chair of the Department of Music Education at the Berklee College of Music and is the president-elect of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). We recently caught up with Cecil to ask him some questions about his time at the USC School of Music.
January 2025 Alumni Spotlight - Meghan Bennett
Meghan Bennett (Bachelor of Music, flute performance) is Director and Music Assistant Professor of Woodwind Studies at New York University and serves on the Flute and Chamber Music Faculty of The Juilliard School Preparatory Division.
December '24 Alumni Spotlight - Nové Deypalan
Nové Deypalan (Doctor of Musical Arts in Instrumental/Orchestral Conducting) is Artistic Director of the Los Angeles Conducting Workshop & Competition and Music Director of St. Nicholas Church in Laguna Woods, CA.
November '24 Alumni Spotlight - Bianca Raso '09
Bianca Raso (Bachelor of Music in voice performance) is a chorister with the Seattle Opera. We recently caught up with Bianca to ask her some questions about her time at the USC School of Music.
October '24 Alumni Spotlight - Clay Mettens '13
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.
September '24 Alumni Spotlight - Baljinder Singh Sekhon, II, '02
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.
May 2024 Alumni Spotlight - Robert Rearden, '03
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.
April 2024 Alumni Spotlight
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.
March '24 Alumni Spotlight - Jeffrey Penn Johnson, '15
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.
February '24 Alumni Spotlight - Jessica Robinson Stinson, '07
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.
January '24 Alumni Spotlight - Philip Snyder, '15 & '18
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.
December 2023 Graduate Spotlight: Abigail Smith
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.
Alumni Spotlight: Washington Isaac Holmes, '84
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.
November 2023 Alumni Spotlight - Brittany Stone, '17
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.
October 2023 Alumni Spotlight - Kevin Rogers
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.
September '23 Alumni Spotlight - Brian Michael Wilmer, '10
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.
May Alumni Spotlight - Eric L. Duncan, '95
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.
April Alumni Spotlight - Jessica Munch-Dittmar, '10
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.