A former Yorkton resident has been named recipient of a prestigious music award.
It has been announced Nick Stoubis will receive the 2012 University of 小蓝视频ern California, Thortnton School of Music, Outstanding Alumnus Award.
Presented annually at the Thornton School of Music Honors Convocation, the Outstanding Alumnus Award is conferred upon a Thornton graduate whose artistic or scholarly accomplishments both reflect the ideals of the school and have furthered the art of music.
They name recipients over a year in advance.
"It is a great honor for me to be on such a prestigious list of past recipients. It is so humbling and meaningful to me to be acknowledged by USC in this way," said Stoubis who graduated from Yorkton Regional High School in 1990. "I have a great respect for so many people that have gone through the doors of USC and I cherish the opportunity to be at such an incredible institution."
Stoubis, the son of Chris and Iris Stoubis of Yorkton, said music has been a huge part of his life since before becoming a teenager, noting he started "playing at 12, and practiced every minute of the day."Still in school Stoubis said he, "started the band 52nd Street and played hundreds of shows with that group through junior high and high school," adding "the group achieved a very loyal following."
After high school, he toured with 52 Street and the group disbanded in 1991.
Stoubis' website bio (www.stoubis.com) notes that "early in his career, he played on bills throughout Canada with artists including: Nazareth, Bachman-Turner-Overdrive (B.T.O.), Trooper, Prism, Barney Bental, and Lee Aaron.
"Upon moving to Los Angeles in the early nineties, he attended the Musicians Institute, where he graduated with top honors and was a nominee for "Outstanding Graduate."
"Stoubis continued his studies at the University of 小蓝视频ern California, where he completed his bachelor of music and master of music degrees. Alongside his numerous academic honors, he was recipient of the Outstanding Undergraduate and Outstanding Graduate awards at the conclusion of his degrees."
Stoubis attended USC as a student, then stayed on as a staff member.
"After spend completing my studies at Musicians Institute, where I graduated with honours, I was asked by the faculty at USC if I had interested in attending and started in the fall of 1993," he told Yorkton This Week, adding he graduated with a BM - Bachelor of Music in 1997, and a MM - Master of Music in 2000.
"While at USC as a student I was offered at teaching assistantship in 1997 while finishing my graduate work. After finishing my Masters, I was appointed as faculty member of Studio/Jazz Guitar Department permanently in 2000."
Stoubis said the university has been a great place in which to grow as a musician.
"It is a wonderful experience to be surrounded by such a great number of musicians that are at the highest level," he said. "USC has a remarkable faculty and I have the privilege of interacting with great artists daily. It is invigorating.
"The students that study at USC are also some of the brightest and I value the time I spend with them as they continue to grow and develop as musicians and people."
The musical influences of the city are also part of the attraction for Stoubis.
"Los Angeles is an incredible city with so much life and a wealth of artistic output. It's a beautiful city to make my home in," he said.
While Stoubis is heavily involved with teaching at USC, he does find time for his personal musical endeavors.
"I am writing and publishing books with Mel Bay Publishing (the largest publisher of guitar materials in the world) and I have just released my third book with them," he said.
"I also write a whole a lot of music for television shows (including NBC's Starting Over), and have music on over 130 episodes of television. I also record other projects and appear on other CDs and recording releases."
