Dr. Kenneth Thompson

Ken Thompson directs the DSYWE and Civic Philharmonic Orchestra and has worked with CYE for 18 seasons. He serves as professor in the College of Musical Arts at Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH.

In demand as a guest conductor and lecturer, Thompson maintains an active schedule with engagements throughout the United States, Canada, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and China. He has appeared as a lecturer or clinician with the International Society for Music Education, the National Conference of the College Band Directors National Association, the North Carolina, South Carolina, Iowa, West Virginia, Ohio, and Missouri Music Educators Association conferences, and many others. An advocate of new music, Thompson has commissioned nearly 100 new works for wind bands and orchestras, half of which are the work of underrepresented composers.

Thompson studied at Limestone College and earned his Master and Doctorate degrees from the University of Iowa. He previously served as Artistic Director of the Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestras and Associate Conductor of the St. Louis Wind Symphony and Chamber Winds.