Solange to build programming and teach course at USC Thornton School of Music

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Over the last two decades, Solange has built an expansive career that knows no bounds.

Solange Knowles, the Grammy-winning artist and curator, founded Saint Heron in 2013 as a creative space exploring music, dance, design, architecture, and visual arts. Recently, Saint Heron created a free library to protect and share rare books by Black and brown authors.

Solange Knowles will be the first artist-in-residence at the USC Thornton School of Music, working with students across all departments – including pop music, arts leadership, and the music industry. She’s also joining the Dean’s Creative Vanguard Program, following Raphael Saadiq, who was invited last December. This makes her the second member of this prestigious program.

Music

Solange is launching a new project called Eldorado Ballroom, a three-night event featuring diverse musical acts. It begins this Thursday at Walt Disney Concert Hall.

Solange sees this new position as the perfect fit, bringing together everything she’s learned and explored in her work so far, as she explained. It feels like a natural progression of her career.

Solange shared with The Times that she earned her GED. Becoming a mother as a teenager – she was pregnant with her son at 17 – meant she couldn’t pursue traditional schooling. However, she feels fortunate to have gained valuable life experience and knowledge through her art, travel, and exposure to different cultures.

She expressed her excitement about having greater access and resources as a scholar in residence, allowing her to expand and enhance her work.

Solange revealed plans for her upcoming residency on Monday while speaking at a packed event at USC. The discussion included Dean of the Thornton School of Music, Jason King, and collaborators from Saint Heron – Shantel Aurora, Diane “Shabazz” Varnie, and Sablā Stays.

Music

Jensen McRae’s second album is a stunning collection of acoustic pop songs that honestly explores heartbreak, while also thoughtfully examining themes like gender, power dynamics, and difficult experiences.

Solange’s new three-year position at Thornton School of Music begins this week. She’ll be collaborating with school leaders to create new courses and programs in music curation—a rapidly expanding field that encompasses roles like creative directors, documentary filmmakers, DJs, and experimental designers, according to King.

Solange will be teaching a class at USC, working with her creative studio Saint Heron and other faculty. The course will focus on how to build frameworks for curating music and understanding the creative process behind musical styles and cultural landscapes. Currently titled “Records of Discovery: Methodologies for Music and Cultural Curatorial Practices,” the class is planned to begin in the fall of 2027. USC will release official details about the course closer to the launch date.

Solange will also lead discussions and workshops for students, featuring her team from Saint Heron. One of these will focus on her celebrated “The Making of Eldorado Ballroom” series, which she presented at Walt Disney Concert Hall in October 2024. She’s also scheduled to speak at an upcoming USC event, sharing her thoughts on women in classical music and the work of composer Julia Perry.

Solange has collaborated with universities before, but she felt this was the perfect moment to take on the residency program.

Solange, who started making music as a teenager, feels she can offer a valuable perspective on how music is made and shared today. She’s particularly excited by the idea of being a mentor to young artists, wishing someone had done the same for her when she was 15. Being able to guide and inspire the next generation of musicians is incredibly rewarding for her.

She added: “Being able to help students navigate what that is for them is like a dream job.”

King, a dedicated follower of Solange’s artistry, believes she’s perfectly suited to teach music curation at the school. He points to her talent for building immersive experiences, evident in her work with Saint Heron and albums like “When I Get Home” (2019) and “A Seat at the Table” (2016).

King praised Solange’s distinctive approach to music curation, expressing hope that she’ll bring that same originality to her teaching and projects. Having served on the board that awarded Solange the inaugural Lena Horne Town Hall Prize in 2020, King believes Solange will serve as an inspiring example of innovative work.

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2025-10-14 20:01