Thornton School Receives $3 Million Donation

A new symphonic hall will be built on the USC campus thanks to a $3 million donation by a professor of violin instruction and performance who has taught for more than 50 years at the USC Thornton School of Music. Alice Schoenfeld, holder of the Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld Endowed Chair in String Instruction, requested the hall be named after her and her sister, Eleonore.

The sisters were internationally renowned classical performers, operating under the stage name of the Schoenfeld Duo. Eleonore was also a USC professor until her death in 2007.

The 3,700 square-foot Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld Symphonic Hall was dedicated Sunday, and a student performance and open house occured Monday.

“Alice and Eleonore Schoenfeld have shown a remarkable commitment to the students of our Thornton School of Music,” said USC President C. L. Max Nikias. “Through their dedication as teachers, and their generosity as philanthropists, they have nurtured some of the greatest musicians in the world, while creating an extraordinary legacy for themselves and for USC Thornton.”

The new symphonic hall takes over a building previously used by the USC School for Cinematic Arts. It was redesigned to be the first dedicated orchestra hall in USC Thornton's history.

Alice Schoenfeld still teaches violin students at the University of Southern California. She and her sister together have taught for more than a century at the school.

“I thought I’d leave a legacy," Alice Schoenfeld said. "I’d like to perpetuate the name of my sister, as she was very active here for so long."