USC Visions and Voices announces 2024-25 roster

At the beginning of her first year at USC as an engineering student, Farrah Diogene attended the musical Everyone is talking about Jamie at the Ahmanson Theater in downtown Los Angeles to recover from their academic workload.

The musical was part of USC Visions and Voices, a series of arts and humanities events held each academic year. The musical captivated Diogene and inspired her to change her major from engineering to film and television production—and become a student coordinator at USC Visions and Voices.

“Visions and Voices opens your eyes to what the world is,” said Diogene, a rising senior at the USC School of Cinematic Arts. “All the people who attend Visions and Voices for talks, workshops or performances are amazing at what they do. It’s an incredible experience and everyone should go at least once.”

Launched in 2006, USC Visions and Voices is a university-wide arts and humanities initiative of performances and presentations. Many of the events are organized by USC faculty and feature renowned artists and distinguished speakers. The initiative aims to provide a transformative, provocative experience for all USC students, inspiring them to broaden their perspectives and become engaged citizens.

“I’m really proud of the new season of Visions and Voices,” said Daria Yudacufski, executive director of USC Visions and Voices. “We’ve worked with USC faculty and art schools to curate a dynamic and wide-ranging series that can’t be experienced anywhere else. The events are interdisciplinary and highlight the power of the arts and humanities to unite communities and inspire dialogue and understanding.”

Admission to events is free for all students and is often free to the public as well, connecting the university with the greater Los Angeles area as part of USC’s commitment to the arts and humanities.

“I love the community and all the great conversations I get to have with the V&V team,” said Diogene. “There are many culturally diverse performances and events this season.”

Highlights of Visions and Voices 2024-25

To learn more and stay up to date on all events, visit the USC Visions and Voices homepage. More events will be added to this year’s tentative schedule in the coming months. Some notable upcoming experiences include:

LA premiere of Ghostly work by the dance and music ensemble La Mezcla

• When: Thursday, 19 September, 7 p.m.
• Where: Bovard Auditorium

The premiere took place last December at the Brava Theater Center in San Francisco. Ghostly work is the latest work from San Francisco-based dance and music ensemble La Mezcla. It explores the history of labor in the US-Mexico border region through polyrhythmic movement and live original music.

Founded in 2015 by Dance/USA fellow Vanessa Sanchez, La Mezcla has roots in Chicana, Latina and Indigenous traditions and social justice. Featuring everything from tap dancing to Mexican zapiert, Son Jarochoand Afro-Caribbean rhythms, La Mezcla brings the often invisible stories and experiences of communities of color to stages, streets and fields.

Quincy Jones: Beyond the Category

• When: It starts on Friday, 20 September, at 19:30 with Duke Ellington … We love you madly Film screening and discussion; the series continues until March
• Where: Norris Cinema Theatre

As part of the USC Thornton School of Music’s year-long tribute to Quincy Jones, Jones’ staff shares and discusses their experiences working with the legendary musician, instrumentalist, composer, conductor, arranger, songwriter, music producer, film and television producer, entrepreneur, investor, social activist and philanthropist.

The year-long series begins with a screening of Duke Ellington … We love you madly followed by a panel discussion with Jones staff.

At 91, Jones’ seven decades as a musician have worked in a variety of styles and media, including classical, jazz, pop, R&B and film music. While pioneering African-American achievement in the entertainment industry, Jones earned critical and audience acclaim. This series of panels, film screenings, master classes and live music explores, honors and celebrates Quincy Jones’ life and legacy.

Tour dance company: Balance & Imbalance / Judo

• When: Sunday, 23 February, 6 p.m.
• Where: Bovard Auditorium

In the latest piece by the Seoul (or Korea)-based Bereishit Dance Company, Balance and imbalanceFive dancers – accompanied by an ensemble of traditional Korean drummers – join forces and race through space to illustrate the ever-turning wheel of opposites and harmony at the heart of all relationships.

The accompanying piece, Judoexplores the idea of ​​sport as a way to control, navigate and overcome humanity’s violent urges.

Founded in 2011 by director Soon-ho Park, Bereishit Dance Company is known for its fantastic sense of space and rhythm, its kinesthetic clarity and power, and its approach to traditional Korean culture from a contemporary perspective. The company seeks to combine the forms and themes of specific sports and traditional art genres through choreographic work, and this performance marks Bereishit’s Los Angeles debut.