USC Gould Law Library showcases ‘rejuvenating power of music’

By Melissa Masatani

L.A. Philharmonic principal concertmaster Martin Chalifour with Gould 1L Athena Tsianos, a former professional pianist (Watch video)

A group of professional musicians have found themselves performing at an unexpected venue — the Asa V. Call Law Library at the USC Gould School of Law. Beginning in the fall 2022 semester, the library hosted Los Angeles Philharmonic principal concertmaster Martin Chalifour alongside former professional pianist and Gould 1L Athena Tsianos, then followed up with saxophone quartet TC4 in the spring.

“Ever since I became the library director, I’ve wanted to host concerts here,” said Diana Jaque, Associate Dean, John Stauffer Law Library Director and Adjunct Professor of Law. “One of my graduate degrees is in Historical Musicology, so I know the rejuvenating power of music.”

Saxophone quartet TC4 (Watch video)

Although COVID restrictions paused Jaque’s plans, the wait came to an end because of a conversation during office hours. Tsianos was taking Jaque’s legal research class and the two started discussing their backgrounds in music during office hours.

“Athena has an undergraduate degree in music and I commented to her how much I’d love for us to hold a concert in the law library,” Jaque said. “She let me know that she had a contact who might be willing, and it turned out that her contact is the principal concertmaster of the LA Philharmonic (Chalifour).”

The spring concert featured USC Thornton School of Music alumni musicians TC4, a saxophone quartet that performed a program from international composers, including Venezuelan composer Aldemaro Romero, French composer Eugene Bozza and American music by Michael Daugherty and Chris Evan Hass.