Gwen Thompson
Encyclopedia
Gwendoline Linda Louise Thompson (born 30 March 1947, Winnipeg
) is a Canadian
violin
ist and music educator. She has been a member of two notable chamber music
ensembles with whom she has made several commercial recordings: the Masterpiece Trio (1977-1988) and Viveza, the latter of which she formed in 1989 with Lee Duckles (cello), Wilmer Fawcett (double-bass), Mark Koenig
(violin), and Linda Lee Thomas
(piano). She has also appeared in concert as a soloist with several Canadian orchestra
s, including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
and the British Columbia Chamber Orchestra.
Thompson grew up in Winnipeg and began her violin studies as a child in her native city where she was a pupil of S.C. Eckhardt-Gramatté, Frank Simmons, and John Waterhouse
. As a teenager she was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada from 1961-1966, notably serving as its concertmaster during her final year which included a European tour. She also played in both the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
and the CBC Winnipeg Orchestra
in 1963-1964.
In 1966 Thompson entered the Jacobs School of Music
at Indiana University
where she was a pupil of violinist Josef Gingold
and earned a Bachelor of Music
in violin performance in 1969. While a student there she notably toured Western Canada with pianist Diedre Irons in 1966-1967 in concerts sponsored by the Jeunesses musicales of Canada and served as associate concertmaster of the Orchestra of the JM International Federation in Paris in 1967. She later studied music privately with Ivan Galamian
and Jascha Heifetz
in the United States.
In 1971 Thompson became the concertmaster of the Orchestra London Canada
and joined the music faculty at the University of Western Ontario
. She remained in both posts until 1975 when she was appointed the head of the string department at the Vancouver Academy of Music
, a position she held until 1991. She also taught on the music faculty of the University of British Columbia
from 1975 to 1983. She has also been highly active as a teacher of masterclasses and as a competition adjudicater in both Canada and the United States.
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
) is a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
ist and music educator. She has been a member of two notable chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
ensembles with whom she has made several commercial recordings: the Masterpiece Trio (1977-1988) and Viveza, the latter of which she formed in 1989 with Lee Duckles (cello), Wilmer Fawcett (double-bass), Mark Koenig
Mark Koenig
Mark Anthony Koenig was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball. He played for 12 seasons from 1925–1936. He was the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees 1927 Murderers' Row team, and was the last surviving member of that legendary team...
(violin), and Linda Lee Thomas
Linda Lee Thomas
Linda Lee Thomas was an American socialite, the wife of musical theatre composer Cole Porter.A descendant of the Lee family of Virginia, daughter of Louisville banker William Paca Lee and his wife, née Lily Hill, Linda Belle Lee was, in her youth, a noted beauty...
(piano). She has also appeared in concert as a soloist with several Canadian orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
s, including the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
Vancouver Symphony Orchestra
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra performing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Over 240,000 people attend its live performances each year. It was founded in 1930 and plays in 12 venues. Its home is the Orpheum theatre. With an annual operating budget of $9.5 million, it is the...
and the British Columbia Chamber Orchestra.
Thompson grew up in Winnipeg and began her violin studies as a child in her native city where she was a pupil of S.C. Eckhardt-Gramatté, Frank Simmons, and John Waterhouse
John Waterhouse (violinist)
John Fereday Preston Waterhouse was a Canadian violinist, conductor, and music educator of English birth. Born in Bilston, West Midlands, he was educated at the Royal Academy of Music where he was a pupil of Émile Sauret , Ebenezer Prout , and Stewart Macpherson . He was later named a Fellow of...
. As a teenager she was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Canada from 1961-1966, notably serving as its concertmaster during her final year which included a European tour. She also played in both the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Its primary concert venue is the Centennial Concert Hall, and the orchestra also performs throughout the province of Manitoba.-History:...
and the CBC Winnipeg Orchestra
CBC Winnipeg Orchestra
The CBC Winnipeg Orchestra was a Canadian orchestra based in Winnipeg, Manitoba that was operated by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation for 37 years. The orchestra mainly performed on CBC Radio, but also occasionally performed live concerts in Winnipeg. It was established in 1947 under the...
in 1963-1964.
In 1966 Thompson entered the Jacobs School of Music
Jacobs School of Music
The Jacobs School of Music of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, is a music conservatory established in 1921. Until 2005, it was known as the Indiana University School of Music...
at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
where she was a pupil of violinist Josef Gingold
Josef Gingold
Josef Gingold was a Russian-Jewish-born classical violinist and teacher, who lived most of his life in the United States...
and earned a Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music
Bachelor of Music is an academic degree awarded by a college, university, or conservatory upon completion of program of study in music. In the United States, it is a professional degree; the majority of work consists of prescribed music courses and study in applied music, usually requiring a...
in violin performance in 1969. While a student there she notably toured Western Canada with pianist Diedre Irons in 1966-1967 in concerts sponsored by the Jeunesses musicales of Canada and served as associate concertmaster of the Orchestra of the JM International Federation in Paris in 1967. She later studied music privately with Ivan Galamian
Ivan Galamian
Ivan Alexander Galamian was an influential Armenian violin teacher of the twentieth century.He was born in Tabriz, Iran, but his family soon emigrated to Moscow, Russia. Galamian studied violin at the School of the Philharmonic Society there with Konstantin Mostras until his graduation in 1919...
and Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz
Jascha Heifetz was a violinist, born in Vilnius, then Russian Empire, now Lithuania. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest violinists of all time.- Early life :...
in the United States.
In 1971 Thompson became the concertmaster of the Orchestra London Canada
Orchestra London Canada
Orchestra London Canada is a professional Canadian symphony orchestra based in London, Ontario. The orchestra was founded by conductor and violinist Bruce Sharpe in 1937 with the name the London Civic Symphony Orchestra. In 1957 the orchestra changed its name to the London Symphony Orchestra, and...
and joined the music faculty at the University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
. She remained in both posts until 1975 when she was appointed the head of the string department at the Vancouver Academy of Music
Vancouver Academy of Music
The Vancouver Academy of Music is a Canadian music conservatory located in Vancouver, British Columbia. The school was founded as the Community Music School of Greater Vancouver in 1969 through efforts made by the Vancouver Community Arts Council. The school was originally located on West 12th...
, a position she held until 1991. She also taught on the music faculty of the University of British Columbia
University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
from 1975 to 1983. She has also been highly active as a teacher of masterclasses and as a competition adjudicater in both Canada and the United States.