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Introduction •Duke Thompson is a recognized teacher, performer and music administrator. His studies have taken him to New York City, France, University of Maryland, Peabody Conservatory, and Arizona State University where he received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree. As a pianist he has performed throughout Canada, the United States and in Japan to rave reviews. His playing has been featured on National Public Radio in Canada and the United States. •Duke Thompson's CD "Greatly Gershwin" received numerous strong endorsements including that from George Gershwin's sister, Frankie. Its success has required a second printing and he is now working on his next CD. In 2001, Duke Thompson produced a live CD recording for the legendary harmonica player Harp Dog Brown which has found great success throughout North America. |
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•As a teacher Dr. Thompson has received awards
for curriculum development and teaching effectiveness. He received the very
rare "100% Positive Rating" from his students at Red Deer College (Alberta,
Canada), many of whom have won scholarships and prizes. As chairperson of
the music department there, he restructured the program to great effect and
benefit for faculty, students, and the community. His mantra of The CPR
Advantage (Clarity, Passion, Relevance) and the Community Performance
Program he has developed are some of what Duke Thompson brings to Harford
County. |
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•Duke Thompson's piano playing is passionate and
exciting. Of his CD Greatly Gershwin, released in 1998 during the centennial
year of George Gershwin's birth, Frankie Gershwin (sister of George
Gershwin) exclaimed that the playing on the CD is "Powerful, even more so
than George's playing". Duke Thompson has performed as soloist with
orchestras throughout North America including The Edmonton Symphony, The
Susquehanna Symphony, and The Red Deer Symphony. •Before receiving his Doctorate of Music in Piano Performance from Arizona State University, Thompson also studied at The University of Maryland (both College Park and Baltimore County campuses), Peabody Conservatory of Music (Johns Hopkins University), Columbia University, and Ithaca College. As well, he studied under Nadia Boulanger in France and at both The Aspen Music Festival (Colorado) and The Brevard Music Center (North Carolina). |
Educator •Founder/Director of the Maryland Conservatory of Music (1997-Present) •Red Deer College (1987 - Present) 1) Applied piano to piano majors 2) Performance Practicum 3) Theory Practicum 4) Chamber Music Ensembles 5) Aural Skills: four semester Bachelor of Music series 6) Music History: four semester Bachelor of Music series 7) Music Theory: four semester Bachelor of Music series 8) Piano lab for music majors and non-music majors •Arizona State University (1986-87) 1) Applied piano to piano minors 2) Piano lab to music majors and non-music majors 3) Coordinator of performance convocations for piano studios •Adjudication in Canada and the United States •Piano Master classes in Canada and the United States |
Education and Training •Bachelor of Arts (piano), University of Maryland Baltimore County •Master of Music (performance), University of Maryland College Park •Doctor of Musical Arts (performance), Arizona State University •Columbia University: Post Graduate studies (1978-79) •Ecole d'Art Americaine, Fontainbleu, France (1979) •Aspen Music Festival (1980), Brevard Music Center (1981), Peabody Conservatory (1984) |
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Performer •Piano Soloist with orchestra for works by Beethoven, Liszt, Macdowell, Chopin, Saint-Saens and Gershwin with orchestras in Canada and the United States including The Edmonton Symphony and The Susquehanna Symphony. •Solo Piano and chamber music recitals in Canada and the United States. •Currently, he combines a performance career throughout North America with being a member (on sabbatical) of the music faculty at Red Deer College in Alberta, Canada and Director of the Maryland Conservatory of Music in Harford County, Maryland USA. |
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Recording Artist •1996 recording of Vernon Murgatroyd's "Piano 69", written for Duke Thompson. •Solo piano CD "Greatly Gershwin" released in 1998 featuring original arrangements of the concert music of Edward MacDowell and George Gershwin. Reviews for Greatly Gershwin •Powerful! Even more so than George's playing. Frankie Gershwin, George Gershwin's sister |
Hear
Duke Thompson play the beginning and ending of his arrangement of Gershwin's
Rhapsody in Blue Download the .mp3 file (1.6MB file) 
A new, blank page will open: keep this page open so the file will continue
to load. File is large, so please be patient on a slower connection. |
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•Through the originality of his arrangements and the persuasiveness of his performance, Duke Thompson has created for the listener of his new CD a fresh and exciting look at these Gershwin favorites.... Jonathan Faiman, composer/pianist (New York City) •The music itself is completely different and has a freshness about it that is marvellous. Chris Allen, CKUA Radio (Edmonton) •"Good programming and excellent piano playing. Bravo on the entire CD!" Lars Boyes Jensen, Concert pianist (Denmark) •(Greatly Gershwin) is sheer dynamite thanks to Thompson's abundant skill and the obvious joy he takes in performing these timeless numbers.... Mark Weber, Red Deer Express •Dr. Thompson's interpretations enliven these bulwarks of American music. He approaches them with a freshness and enthusiasm that one finds rare in recordings . I highly recommend these performances as they are both enlightening and fun. Really, really brilliant work, a dazzling, dazzling performance!!.... Dr. Rudy Rozanski, composer/pianist (Vancouver, British Columbia) •Greatly Gershwin is a joyful experience to the ear!. Listening to Thompson play 'An American in Paris ' is like watching a fun movie about life in Paris... Ricardo Peres, concert pianist (Montreal) •Duke Thompson has produced a CD which is highly imaginative and original in it's content. Thompson's playing displays charm, virtuosity, and humor. Dr. Cheryl Cooney, Music faculty, Red Deer College •I find your arrangement of Rhapsody in Blue very original and your virtuosity impeccable and entertaining. Fritz Jean-Pierre, Pianist; Brooklyn College (New York) Top of Page |
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Dr. Duke Thompson, Director |
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