This story originally appeared in Fanfare Fall 2024.

Director of bands retires following 28-year teaching and conducting career

Mallory Thompson’s musical roots trace back to Northwestern. She earned an undergraduate degree in 1979 in trumpet performance under Vincent Cichowicz, a renowned member of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, followed by a master of music degree in conducting as a student of John P. Paynter, the Bienen School’s second director of bands.

In 1996 Thompson made history as the first woman named director of bands at Northwestern and only the third person to hold the title. Her nearly three-decade tenure concluded this year with a celebratory series of performances, culminating in late May as hundreds of alumni returned to campus to attend her final Northwestern concert. 

“I am going out with bright eyes,” Thompson said. “I’m really grateful and have no regrets. I feel good about the timing, loving the music and the students, and about loving Northwestern the way I do.”

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Throughout her Northwestern tenure, Thompson directed SWE, taught undergraduate and graduate conducting, and administered all aspects of the band program. She held the John W. Beattie Chair of Music and was coordinator of the school’s conducting program. In 2003 she was named a Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence. She made five recordings with SWE on Summit Records and led the ensemble in performances at the College Band Directors National Association conventions in 2001 and 2017. 

“The greatest honor of my professional life has been conducting the Symphonic Wind Ensemble,” Thompson said. “I’m proud of the music we have made together and our commitment to honoring the talents of our students every day.”

Maintaining an active schedule as a guest conductor, conducting teacher, and guest lecturer throughout the US and Canada, Thompson has taught thousands of undergraduates, graduate students, and professional educators. Her former students hold important positions in universities, public schools, military bands, and arts organizations across the country.

Northwestern recognized Thompson’s contributions to the University community by awarding her emeritus status. She remains artistic director of the Northshore Concert Band, a position she’s held since 2003, and plans to continue guest conducting in her retirement. “Anywhere I go in the world, I'm going to plant the purple flag,” she said. “I will always be an advocate and a very noisy supporter for Northwestern, because that’s  
my home.”
 

Alumni Reflections

Several former students shared their sentiments for a surprise tribute during Thompson’s interview on WGN’s Spotlight Chicago in December.

• “There’s not a day that goes by that I’m not actively inspired by something I learned from you. I consider having you as a teacher to be one of the great gifts of my life.” - Joseph Higgins ​​’13 MMus, ’17 DMA
• “Thank you for your guidance, life lessons, and musicianship, which have influenced me and many of your students in life-changing ways.” - Kimberly Fleming ’15 MMus
• “Your insight and musical inspiration continue to motivate me every day.” - Rodney Dorsey ’92 MMus, ’06 DMus
• “My time with you at the University was nothing short of spectacular. A lot of my success is due to your mentorship and expert knowledge.” - Gerard Morris ’04 MMus

Final Concert

The Symphonic Wind Ensemble’s sold-out final concert of the year featured a variety of wind favorites, including Thompson’s own arrangements of the Prelude to Act III, Dance, and Finale from Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, which she dedicated to her mentor Donald Hunsberger. The program also included Ben Horne’s arrangement of Deep River; Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, transcribed by Hunsberger; and David Maslanka’s monumental Symphony No. 4.

All photos by Elliot Mandel