Gwen Thompson

Thompson, Gwen

Thompson, Gwen (Gwendoline Linda Louise). Violinist, teacher, b Winnipeg 30 Mar 1947; B MUS performance (Indiana) 1969. A pupil of Frank Simmons, John Waterhouse, and S.C. Eckhardt-Gramatté in Winnipeg and of Josef Gingold, Ivan Galamian, and Jascha Heifetz in the USA, she was a member 1961-6 of the NYO and concertmaster for its 1966 European tour. She played 1963-4 in the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the CBC Winnipeg Orchestra, toured the west 1966-7 with the pianist Diedre Irons for the JMC (YMC), and in 1967 was associate concertmaster of the Orchestra of the JM International Federation in Paris. After completing her studies she moved to London, Ont, where she served 1971-5 as concertmaster of the London SO (Orchestra London Canada) and taught at the University of Western Ontario. She has taught at the Banff SFA (summer 1972) and the Inter-Provincial Music Camp, Manitouwabing, Ont, (1972-4). In 1975 she became head of the string department at the Vancouver Academy of Music, a position she continued to hold in 1991. She has been on the faculty of the University of British Columbia (1975-83), NYO (1975-83, 1988-90) and the Festival of Canadian Youth Orchestras, has adjudicated festivals throughout Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, and Washington State, and has participated in workshops at the University of Alaska (1988-91) and the University of Idaho (1989). As the violinist in the Masterpiece Trio (1977-88) she performed across Canada, recorded for the CBC, and performed at Music at Sharon (1986-8). In 1990 she appeared as soloist with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and the.British Columbia.Chamber Orchestra performing the Kurt Weill Concerto on the 'Avison' series.In 1989 Thompson formed Viveza with Linda Lee Thomas, piano, Mark Koenig, violin, Lee Duckles, cello, and Wilmer Fawcett, bass. This salon-tango group released its first CD recording, In Palm Court Style (Skylark 9001), with percussionist Salvador Ferreras, in 1990, and recorded a second CD, Viveza Encore (Skylark 9101), in 1991.