On September 24th, 2026, USC Thornton’s live concert celebration of Stevie Wonder’s landmark album “Songs in the Key of Life” welcomed a very special guest to the stage, the legendary Stevie Wonder himself. For our student performers collaborating side by side with their instructors and a world-class band, this extraordinary opportunity represented the unique educational experience that can only happen at a place like USC Thornton in Los Angeles, where different generations, disciplines and musical worlds can come together on one stage. *** “Songs In The Key Of Life At 50: Reimagined” was co-presented by USC Visions & Voices with support from Black Music Collective and co-curated by Dean Jason King and renowned keyboardist, musical director and Thornton faculty member Greg Phillinganes. The concert featured extraordinary performances from guest artists Avery Wilson, Lavance Colley, Tone Stith, Cory Henry and Jeffery Lewis. The evening also featured Thornton faculty members Greg Phillinganes and Aaron Serfaty, with an incredible band including Nisan Stewart, Alex Al, Isaiah Sharkey, Taku Hirano and David Delhomme; background vocals from Sangin Sara and Toni Scruggs; and USC Thornton alums LOCKED: Raymond Ortiz, Yohanna Bauerdorf, Maddi Lasker, Mateo Gonzales, and Katherine Nerro. And at the heart of the evening were our USC Thornton students, performing alongside and learning from this remarkable community of artists: Addison Tharp, Analise Granados, Anna Duboc, Ayanda Fuzane, Casey Kuma, Dylan Tyree, Estevan Olmos, Ethan Liu, Ethan Walmark, Finn Vora, Jackson U’Ren, Hannah Norman, Isabelle Fromme, Isaiah Iny-Woods, Janelle Finton, Janina Kalishnik, Jiming Tu, John Udinsky, Jorge Araujo Felix, Kazeem T. Dairo, Makiba Kurita, Mia Hartounian, Nikki Rodrigues, Olivia Rivera, Rachel Harrington, Rex Callaway, Romél Veal Jr., Ruby Chen, Shane Lofton, Solomon Leonard, Wallis Schriver. An unforgettable night and a powerful example of what becomes possible when education, artistry and community meet on the same stage.