Mathew Knowles Joins the USC’s Thornton School of Music for its “Popular Music Performance Forum”
Mathew Knowles will provide students at the University of Southern California’s (USC) Thornton School of Music with some insights and advice about the music industry as a special guest for its “Popular Music Performance Forum” on Friday, January 28 from 2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Knowles will join Christopher Sampson, Associate Dean, Division of Popular Music and Industry Studies, for a moderated discussion with nearly 100 students in attendance. The format of the class is similar to “Inside the Actor’s Studio,” where, after an hour of dialogue between Sampson and Knowles, the students will have an opportunity to ask questions.
“Popular Music Forum” is a weekly special topics series intended to provide insights into the issues that will confront musicians in the profession. The class features guest speakers who are acclaimed artists, producers, songwriters, managers, tour managers, marketing specialists, record company executives and new media experts.
Knowles joins a list of distinguished special guests including Randy Newman, Steve Miller, Lamont Dozier, Melissa Manchester, Lenny Waronker, Patrice Rushen, and Darryl Jones (bass player for the Rolling Stones), among many others.
“It’s an honor to be invited as a special guest at USC’s Thornton School of Music,” said Knowles. “As we are training the next generation of music professionals, it is vitally important to provide opportunities for them to interact with working professionals in the field. I’m excited to share what I’ve learned with the students in this terrific program and I know I also will be informed, challenged, and stimulated by them.”
Founded in the Fall of 2009, the Popular Music Program at the USC Thornton School of Music is a unique music degree program for the rock, pop, R&B, folk, Latin and country artist. The USC Thornton School of Music began this program because it recognized the opportunity to address the needs of musicians who did not fit the traditional classical and jazz offerings that are typical in most university music programs. Now in its second year, the program enrolls over 50 talented songwriters, vocalists and instrumentalists through a rigorous and highly selective audition process from all regions of the United States. In bringing these students together in Los Angeles, USC’s home and a music industry capital, the program aspires to address the dynamic and changing landscape of the music profession.
"The opportunity to meet industry leaders such as Mr. Knowles bridges the worlds of academia and the music professionin an incredibly powerful way,” said Sampson. “Each week, our guest speakers serve as a true primary resource for our students to gain insight in how to chart their own path into the profession. Having professionals of this stature share their experience goes beyond being simply informative; it inspires students to work harder and be more creative."
Knowles has a heart for education and young people. He spends a great deal of his time educating and mentoring students inside and outside of the classroom. He holds a professorship at Texas Southern University, where he teaches a course on the entertainment industry in the School of Communications. He also has been a popular guest lecturer at colleges and universities throughout the country. In 2010, Knowles instituted a highly successful summer internship program at Music World Entertainment for college students interested in working in the entertainment field. Students selected for the highly competitive program had a unique opportunity to gain hands on experience in various areas of music entertainment business, as well as to meet regularly with Knowles and other company executives. Some of the interns were hired by Music World Entertainment at the conclusion of the internship program.
For further information, please contact: Gwendolyn Quinn GQ Media & Public Relations 718.622.4100 GwendolynQuinn@aol.com
ABOUT MATHEW KNOWLES
Mathew Knowles is the founder, President and CEO of Music World Entertainment (MWE), one of the world’s leading music and entertainment conglomerates. Under his visionary leadership, the Houston-based company has experienced tremendous growth and extraordinary success over the past two decades. Its worldwide platforms include successful record label ventures, management services for recording artists and producers, endorsement deals and partnerships, artist development services, a master catalog series, film ventures, licensed merchandise products, community philanthropic work and investment and property holdings. Knowles is a 1974 graduate of Fisk University, where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. He was bestowed with the honor of Doctor of Humane Letters from his alma mater at the University’s 2008 Commencement Ceremony. Knowles began his career as a sales and marketing representative for Xerox in Houston, Texas. He became the top sales executive worldwide before turning his attention to the music business that had intrigued him since his youth.
ABOUT THE USC THORNTON SCHOOL OF MUSIC
The USC Thornton School of Music brings together a stellar faculty chosen from a broad spectrum of the music profession and musically gifted students from around the globe. Founded in 1884, and today the oldest continually operating cultural institution in Los Angeles, the Thornton School consistently ranks among the top one percent of the nation's music schools and conservatories. Graduates of the school attain positions with major orchestras, ensembles, recording studios and music industry firms and perform on stages and in studios around the world.
Blending the rigors of a traditional conservatory-style education with the benefits of studying at a leading research university, the Thornton School offers students a thorough music education in a real-world context. Located at the center of Los Angeles, the school is a collegiate partner of choice for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, to name a few. In addition to their work with these ensembles, Thornton students are a constant presence in local classrooms, reaching out to the next generation of musicians through music education and appreciation courses. With its faculty, its students, its events and its work, the Thornton School is one of the most important cultural resources in Los Angeles.
