Amanda Thompson
Lecturer in Music
Amanda Thompson is currently the Percussion instructor at Western State College of Colorado. She is also the Band Director at the Crested Butte Community School. She is originally from Lake Forest, Illinios and has resided in San Francisco for the past seven years. She received her Bachelor in Percussion performance in 2002 from the University of Michigan, studying under Michael Udow. She received her Masters in Percussion Performance in 2004 from The San Francisco Conservatory of Music studying under Jack Van Geem (principal percussionist of the San Francisco Symphony) and David Herbert (Timpanist of SFS).
She was an active free-lancer in the San Francisco Bay Area from 2001-2008. She is currently a contracted member of the Santa Cruz Symphony and frequently played with the following orchestras: Napa Symphony, Berkeley Symphony, Oakland Symphony, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Mendocino Music Festival, Britt Music Festival, Air Force Band of the Golden West and several opera companies and choirs.
Music has been a part of her life since the age of 3, beginning with piano. At age 10 she began percussion and marimba lessons. In order to be a well rounded musician she spent several months in Jamaica studying Caribbean rhythms. She also spent 3 months in Australia teaching percussion at a camp for underprivileged Aboriginal children. She has taught at almost every age group from 3-50.
Some of her career highlights are as follows:
30 minute interview with NPR about a tremendously difficult piece played with the Berkeley Symphony
National Repertory Orchestra Breckenridge, CO- 2006
Received Hewlitt Foundation scholarship to Aspen Music Festival- 2004
Featured Soloist with the Aspen Music Festival Percussion Ensemble- 2001
She has also been involved in several recordings as follow:
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra- Beethoven’s 9th Symphony
Parallel Ensemble- A prominent San Francisco new music ensemble- Autour de Messiaen- soloist on world premiere of “Concerto for Orchestra”’ by Michele Reverdy
Equilibrium Records- Historic Works for Percussion- Played on several tracks including “Ionisation” by Edgar Varese
