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Dr. Mallory Thompson (Evanston, Illinois) is the Director of Bands, Professor of Music, and Coordinator of the Conducting Program and holds the John W. Beattie Chair of Music at Northwestern University. Thompson was named a Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence (2003). As the third person in the university’s history to hold the Director of Bands position, Thompson conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting, and administers all aspects of the band program. She has made five recordings with the Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble on the Summit Records label, available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music. In addition to her teaching duties at Northwestern, Thompson has been the Artistic Director of the Northshore Concert Band since 2003.
Thompson received her B.M.E. and M.M. degrees from Northwestern University, where she studied conducting with John P. Paynter and trumpet with Vincent Cichowicz. Thompson received a D.M.A. from the Eastman School of Music, studying with Donald Hunsberger.
While maintaining an active schedule as a guest conductor, teacher, and lecturer throughout the United States and Canada, Thompson has had the privilege of teaching and conducting thousands of undergraduate and graduate students and professional educators. Thompson is especially proud of her 58 graduate conducting students and the hundreds of outstanding Symphonic Wind Ensemble members with whom she has enjoyed making music at Northwestern. Thompson treasures her relationship with the Wildcat Marching Band and is honored to preserve and grow Northwestern’s legacy.