JAMES THOMPSON is currently Professor of Trumpet at the renowned Eastman School of Music. He came to this position after having played Principal Trumpet in the Atlanta and Montreal Symphony Orchestras.
He has performed as soloist with orchestras in North and South America as well as Europe. He has made recital tours of Asia, North and South America as well as most of Europe.
Since joining the faculty of the Eastman School he has performed as guest Principal Trumpet with orchestras that include the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as the Baltimore, Seattle, and Boston Symphonys.
Mr. Thompson can be heard on CDs with the Montreal and Atlanta Symphonys, as well as solo and chamber projects. His recordings of the Shoshtakovitch Concerto #1 for Piano, Trumpet and Strings and Mahler Symphony #5 were Stereo Review’s records of the Month.
Mr. Thompson is a Yamaha Performing Artist.
PHILIP SWANSON has had a distinguished career as a trombonist, pianist, organist, composer, conductor, and teacher. He received a Doctor of Musical Arts from New England Conservatory, Master of Music from the Eastman School, and completed his undergraduate work at Oberlin Conservatory and the University of Miami. He is presently an Associate Professor of Music at Salem State College in Salem, MA.
As a trombonist, he has performed with the Miami Philharmonic, where he served as principal for five years, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Opera Boston, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, and numerous other orchestras and chamber ensembles.
He performs regularly with several jazz groups including Chamber Jazz Trio and Bob Nieske’s Big Wolf Project. He appears frequently in concert as a solo pianist performing his own works as well as his improvisations on jazz standards. He also has collaborated with poet J.D. Scrimgeour, forming the group “Confluence” which combines Scrimgeour’s poetry with his music. They have performed throughout New England to wide acclaim.
