Artist Bio
With a deep-rooted passion for collaboration and musical leadership, violinist/violist James Thompson has carved out a vibrant career as a chamber musician, concertmaster, and music educator. Thompson has performed on chamber music stages across the country, including Alice Tully Hall, Weill Recital Hall, Music@Menlo, Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, ChamberFest Cleveland, and many more. Solo engagements include appearances with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Asheville Symphony, and the Cleveland Pops Orchestra, among others. Thompson was recently appointed Concertmaster of the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra, and often performs as Concertmaster with Cleveland’s BlueWater Chamber Orchestra. As Director of Music@Menlo’s Winter Residency, Thompson curates artist residencies that blend dynamic performances with education and community engagement, building bridges between musicians, students, and local audiences. Thompson holds bachelor of music, masters, and artist diploma degrees from the Cleveland Institute of Music; his primary teachers include Jaime Laredo, William Preucil, and Paul Kantor.
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