Grammy Award-winning artist and curator Solange Knowles has been appointed as the inaugural all-school scholar in residence at the USC Thornton School of Music. This three-year residency, commencing in October 2025, will involve her teaching, leading student workshops, and collaborating with faculty to develop new academic frameworks focused on music curation.
Key Takeaways
- Solange Knowles is the first all-school scholar in residence at USC Thornton School of Music.
- Her three-year residency begins in October 2025.
- She will teach a course on music curation and host student workshops.
- Knowles will also help develop long-term academic frameworks for the school.
- This role aligns with her multidisciplinary institution, Saint Heron.
A New Role in Music Academia
Solange Knowles officially announced her new position during a sold-out talk at USC. The event featured Thornton School of Music Dean Jason King, along with Saint Heron collaborators Shantel Aurora, Diane "Shabazz" Varnie, and Sablā Stays.
This appointment marks a significant step in Knowles's career. It also highlights USC Thornton's commitment to incorporating contemporary and diverse perspectives into its curriculum. Her residency is designed to be highly interactive and impactful for students across various disciplines within the music school.
Important Fact
Solange Knowles is the second individual invited to join the Dean’s Creative Vanguard Program, following her frequent collaborator, Raphael Saadiq, who joined in December 2024.
Designing a Unique Curriculum
The core of Knowles's three-year residency involves developing the school's first official offerings in music curation. This rapidly expanding field encompasses various roles, including creative directors, documentary filmmakers, DJs, and experimental designers, according to Dean King.
Knowles is scheduled to co-teach a class in collaboration with Saint Heron, Dean King, and other faculty members. This course will delve into the creation of curatorial frameworks, exploring the context, craft, and development of musical landscapes.
The tentative title for this course is "Records of Discovery: Methodologies for Music and Cultural Curatorial Practices." It is expected to launch in Fall 2027. Further details regarding the course will be announced closer to its official start date.
"I am a GED graduate. I was a teenage mom. I was pregnant with my son at 17, so I didn't get to further my education in the classical sense. But I was really blessed and honored to have enriched these other parts of education through my art, through travel [and] through the globalization of my life. So to be able to have access and broader tools as a scholar in residence, to enrich that and deepen that, is really so exciting for me."
— Solange Knowles to The Times
Saint Heron's Influence and Student Engagement
Solange Knowles's multidisciplinary institution, Saint Heron, established in 2013, has significantly shaped her diverse career. Under Saint Heron, she has explored music, choreography, design, architecture, and visual art.
Most recently, Saint Heron launched a free library dedicated to preserving and making accessible rare Black and brown literature. This initiative reflects Knowles's commitment to cultural preservation and access.
During her residency, Knowles will also organize student-focused conversations and workshops with her Saint Heron team. One planned workshop will focus on "The Making of Eldorado Ballroom," her acclaimed three-night musical performance series presented at Walt Disney Concert Hall in October 2024.
Background Information
Solange Knowles released her first album, "Solo," at the age of 15. Her career has since evolved to include extensive work as a curator and artist across multiple creative disciplines.
Why Now is the Right Time
Although Solange Knowles has collaborated with other universities in the past, she believes this is the ideal moment for her USC residency. She noted that she has observed the evolution of music and music curation for decades and feels she has valuable contributions to offer the conversation.
Knowles expressed inspiration at the thought of guiding students through experiences similar to her own early career. She sees herself as a vessel of guidance, helping students navigate their artistic paths.
"For decades now, I've watched the evolution of music and music curation, and I feel like I have something adequate to add to the conversation. I feel really inspired by the idea of my 15-year-old self being able to have someone sort of walk me through the footsteps of what I was about to embark on. So if I can, in any role, be a vessel of guidance, it really just sort of warms my heart that I am given the opportunity to be in that space."
— Solange Knowles
Dean King's Perspective on Knowles's Expertise
Dean Jason King, a long-time admirer of Knowles's work, highlighted her unique ability to create immersive artistic worlds through projects like Saint Heron and her albums, including "When I Get Home" (2019) and "A Seat at the Table" (2016).
King believes that Knowles is exceptionally qualified to teach music curation at the school. He anticipates that her distinct approach will enrich the classroom experience and programming.
He added that Knowles herself will serve as a model for innovative curatorial work. King served on the board of the Lena Horne Town Hall Prize, which awarded its inaugural honor to Solange in February 2020.
This residency provides a unique opportunity for USC Thornton students to learn directly from a Grammy-winning artist whose work consistently pushes creative boundaries.
