Role(s):
Specialties:
Affiliations:
Mallory Thompson (Chicago, IL) Mallory Thompson is Director of Bands Emeritus at Northwestern University. During her tenure, as only the third person in the university’s history to hold the director of bands position, Thompson conducted the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, taught undergraduate and graduate conducting, and administered all aspects of the band program. She made five recordings with the Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble on the Summit Records label, which are available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music. Thompson led the Symphonic Wind Ensemble in performances at the College Band Directors National Association national conventions in 2001 and 2017, and earned praise from many composers, including John Adams, Michael Colgrass, John Corigliano, Jennifer Higdon, Karel Husa, Morten Lauridsen, David Maslanka, Jonathan Newman, Carter Pann, Joel Puckett, Kevin Puts, and Adam Schoenberg. She continues to serve as Artistic Director of the Northshore Concert Band.
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 the D.M.A. from the Eastman School of Music, studying with Donald Hunsberger. She maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor, teacher, and lecturer throughout the United States and internationally.
During her 28-year tenure at Northwestern, Thompson had the privilege of teaching and conducting thousands of undergraduate and graduate students and professional educators. She is especially proud of her 58 graduate conducting students and the hundreds of outstanding Symphonic Wind Ensemble members with whom she enjoyed making music at Northwestern.