Honors Wind Symphony
Midwest Young Artists’ Honors Wind Symphony provides talented high school students with an unparalleled musical opportunity. Students are exposed to traditional and modern band literature while working with the finest band directors in the Chicago area. Through a comprehensive program, students are provided with an outstanding opportunity to perform literature on par with top professional bands in the United States.
Rehearsal Schedule - Fall 2008
7:00 – 9:00 PM the weeks of November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 and December 7 at the MYA Center at Ft. Sheridan
The night of the week has yet to be finalized; it will probably be Wednesdays.
Attendance Policy
Accepted students must attend 5 of the 6 scheduled rehearsals unless permission is obtained by the Directors.
Tuition Fee for Fall of 2008 is $150. Students enrolled in the Orchestra Program or a Big Band receive a 100% fall semester scholarship.
Audition Requirements
- 2 prepared pieces expressing technical skill and tone color (etudes acceptable)
- Students should prepare all 12 major scales
Audition for Honors Wind Symphony
Director
John A. Thomson was Director of Bands at New Trier High School for twenty-five years (1982-2007). He received his Bachelors and Masters degrees from Carnegie Mellon University, where he studied with Richard Strange and Philip Catelinet. While completing course work towards a PhD in Music Education at Northwestern University, he served for two years as a Teaching Assistant in both the Departments of Conducting and Performing Organizations and Music Education, where he studied with John Paynter and Bennett Reimer. Mr. Thomson is a Consulting Editor and New Music Reviewer for The Instrumentalist Magazine and is active as a clinician, guest conductor and adjudicator. For many summers, he served as a conductor at the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and has conducted the camp’s International Symphonic Band in Europe. Personal awards include the National Band Association Citation of Excellence, the American School Band Directors Association Stanbury Award, the Mr. Holland’s Opus Award, the Chicagoland Outstanding Music Educator Award and the Phi Beta Mu Outstanding Bandmaster Award. Mr. Thomson was recently inducted into the Phi Beta Mu Illinois Band Directors Hall of Fame at Northwestern University. Professional affiliations include the American Bandmasters Association.
Guest Conductor
Mallory Thompson is the director of bands, professor of music and coordinator of the Conducting Program at Northwestern University. In 2003 she was named a Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence. As the third person in the University’s history to hold the director of bands position, she conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting, administers all aspects of the band program, and is coordinator of the Conducting Program. In addition, Dr. Thompson is Artistic Director of the Northshore Concert Band. Prior to this appointment, Professor Thompson held similar positions at the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, the University of South Florida, Oberlin Conservatory, and Bucknell University. She has released recordings with the University of Cincinnati Wind Symphony and the Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble. Professor Thompson received the Bachelor of Music Education degree and Master of Music degree in conducting from Northwestern University, where she studied conducting with John P. Paynter and trumpet with Vincent Cichowicz. She received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music, where she studied with Donald Hunsberger. Professor Thompson will guest conduct on the April 8th rehearsal.
