Tuesday, November 6, 2001

With Strings Attached
Faculty member debuts as a solo violinist
By Heather Christie
Staff Reporter

Curt Thompson, violin assistant professor and director of chamber music studies at TCU, will be a solo violinist when the Texas Chamber Orchestra debuts in Fort Worth Nov. 18 at Bass Performance Hall.

Thompson was appointed the first associate music director/solo violinist of the Texas Chamber Orchestra last month, said Candace Bawcome, executive director of the Texas Chamber Orchestra.

Thompson said his new job duties include violin solos and organization and rehearsals of chamber music concerts.

Erin Munger/PHOTO EDITOR Curt Thompson, TCU violin assistant professor and director of chamber music studies, will be a solo violinist in the debut of the Texas Chamber Orchestra at the Bass Performance Hall on Nov. 18.

The two main orchestras in the area are the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Thompson said. The Texas Chamber Orchestra is a smaller orchestra that performs chamber music.

“It is a unique kind of ensemble that is really gaining momentum and gaining attention in this area and its goal is to offer something that the other two orchestras don’t offer, which is a more intimate ensemble than the large symphony orchestra,” he said.

Thompson, who joined the Texas Chamber Orchestra earlier this year, said his new position will not interfere with his job at TCU, but it will help recruit area musicians to the university.

“(My new position) will further enhance the reputation of our string department and it’s an exciting position in a growing organization that stands a chance to have a foothold in the musical community in the Metroplex,” Thompson said.

Thompson has been the assistant professor of violin and director of chamber music studies at TCU for the past five years. He is also founder and artistic director for the Mimir Chamber Music Festival, a two-week festival held on-campus each July. At the festival, artists give public performances and teach 20 high school and college-aged music students, he said.

Thompson said the Mimir Chamber Music Festival has faculty that are great musicians from all over the world.

Bawcombe said Thompson’s new position in the history of the 17-year-old orchestra.
“Due to the fact that the Mimir Chamber Music Festival at TCU has been so successful, in looking at his resume and the press that has been associated with Mimir, I felt that this was a logical move and it is something that Mr. Thompson expressed interest in and so we decided to go with it,” Bawcombe said.

Thompson said he is excited about the new position because he enjoys building new programs in institutions he believes in and this program has much potential. I don’t care if he’s excited, if he enjoys building new programs, what programs has he built Thompson said.

Ron Spigelman, music director of the Texas Chamber Orchestra, said he created the new position specifically with Thompson in mind.

Spigelman said he and Thompson worked together for three years in West Texas with the San Angelo Symphony.

“I have become familiar with his work and I realized how talented he is, and I thought it was great if I could get him to work with the chamber orchestra,” Spigelman said.

Federico Hood, senior violin performance major, said Thompson’s new job is an opportunity for students to learn by watching him play.

“As far as TCU is concerned, it’s great to have somebody out in the actual field and it can be an extremely attractive thing for recruitment. You can learn a lot from just seeing him in action,” Hood said.

Bawcombe said she hopes the Texas Chamber Orchestra will perform concerts at Bass Hall and eventually on TCU’s campus.

Heather J. Christie
h.j.christie@student.tcu.edu