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School of Music

  • "Virginia" by Sara L. Winsted

Onomatopoetic Art Inspiring Art: Music Made Visible

Unique approach to creative collaboration comes to fruition Sept. 28

A collaboration of inspired artistic interpretations opened at Main Street's First Thursday event this month, featuring works by members of the Trenholm Artist Guild and area artists inspired by USC School of Music composer Jesse Jones' newly composed piece, "In dulcet tones." Nine out of 35 juried works were chosen by Jones to represent "In dulcet tones." Artists of the selected works range from amateurs to internationally renowned artists. The selected works will also be shown at performances of "In dulcet tones" this spring.

In all, 46 artists were involved in the project. Each of them was given a recording of the music from which to draw inspiration. The artists share their experiences with text displayed along with the artworks.

The North American premier of "In dulcet tones" will be performed by Rebecca Hunter and Lynn Kompass on the Cornelia Freeman Concert Series Sept. 28 at 3 p.m. in the School of Music's Recital Hall. The selected artworks will be displayed on stage during the performance. The remaining body of work from the Onomatopoetic show will be on display at the USC Music Library through October 24, 2014.

Jones, USC assistant professor of composition and theory, will make high quality images of the selected artworks available on his website to performers who would like to project them at future performances.

USC music professors Rebecca Hunter, violin, and Lynn Kompass, piano, commissioned Jones to write a new work to be premiered in Thailand earlier this year. Hunter wanted to find a way to enhance the North American premier and was looking for a way to collaborate with local artists. Through a conversation with Sara Winsted, show chairman for the Trenholm Artist Guild, the project took form and grew into Onomatopoetic – one musical composition interpreted in many visual ways.

Cornelia Freeman Concert Series

Trenholm Artists Guild


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