Dr. Mallory Thompson Awarded the Medal of Honor

Dr. Mallory Thompson will be presented the Medal of Honor award at this year’s The Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference.

Dr. Mallory Thompson is one of the most dynamic and respected conductors in the nation.  She is the director of bands, professor of music, coordinator of the conducting program, and holds the John W. Beattie Chair of Music at Northwestern University. In 2003 she was named a Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence. Dr. Thompson conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, teaches graduate and undergraduate conducting, and administers all aspects of the band program. She has taught conducting to hundreds of undergraduate students, graduate students, and professional educators. She has appeared as a conductor or clinician at College Band Directors National Association conventions, the Midwest Clinic, the Interlochen Arts Academy, numerous state music conventions, and the Aspen Music Festival. In addition to conducting all-state ensembles throughout the United States, she has had professional engagements as guest conductor with the United States Air Force Band, the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” the United States Army Field Band, the United States Coast Guard Band, the United States Navy Band, the West Point Band, the Dallas Wind Symphony, Symphony Silicon Valley, the Detroit Chamber Winds and Strings, Monarch Brass Ensemble, and Banda Sinfônica in Sao Pãulo, Brazil. Thompson has recorded four albums with the Northwestern University Symphonic Wind Ensemble on the Summit Records label.

2019-2020 will mark Dr. Thompson’s 15th season as the full-time artistic director and conductor of the Northshore Concert Band.

The Medal of Honor was introduced in 1962 as a way to honor conductors, educators, composers, and others whose unique service to music education and continuing influence on the development and improvement of bands and orchestras deserve special recognition.

“Mallory is one of the most deserving of the award.  Her career as a collegiate conductor has been exemplary.  Her ensembles, no matter the university, are always the example of true greatness in performance,” said Kevin Sedatole, Director of Bands at Michigan State University. Mr. Sedatole is also a current officer on The Midwest Clinic Board of Directors and will be presenting Dr. Thompson this award. “She's been a champion of composers and new music throughout her career.  She serves as a wonderful mentor to so many across the country through her extremely high work ethic and subject knowledge.  To get to the top of our field it's an unending effort of study, reflection and perseverance.  Mallory is that definition of all those aspects.  It will be an honor to make this presentation in December.”

The Midwest Clinic also presents two additional awards to recognize individuals who have made major contributions to instrumental music education; the Music Industry Award and the International Award. The Music Industry Award honors individuals for their support of music education through their work in the music industry. This award was introduced in 1991 and is presented at the Exhibitor and Advertiser reception held each year at the conference. Introduced in 1992, the International Award honors individuals who contribute to instrumental music education from around the globe, reflecting the growth of The Midwest Clinic from an event of national stature to one of international notoriety.

In addition to Dr. Thompson, The Midwest Clinic will honor the following individuals at this year’s conference. Mary Luehrsen (Industry Award), Pamela Tellejohn Hayes (Medal of Honor), and Dr. Charles Menghini (Medal of Honor).

The Midwest Clinic International Band, Orchestra and Music Conference, now in it’s 73rd year, offers guests interested in music education an array of clinics and exhibits, as well as access to music and teaching icons. With more than 18,000 attendees from all 50 states and more than 30 countries, the conference focuses on industry trends and future topics in business and music education.

For a list of all previous honorees, visit: https://www.midwestclinic.org/midwest-clinic-awards.html