Rosemary Thomson
{{short description|Canadian conductor and chorus master}}
Rosemary Thomson is a Canadian conductor and chorus master. As of 2018, she is the Music Director of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra,[https://www.vernonmorningstar.com/entertainment/review-okanagan-symphony-dazzles-with-verdis-requiem/ "Review: Okanagan Symphony dazzles with Verdi’s Requiem"]. Vernon Morning Star, Nov. 12, 2018, Concert review by Anita Perry[https://www.summerlandreview.com/entertainment/concert-review-yuletide-tales/ "Concert review: Yuletide Tales"]. Summerland REview, Dec. 25, 2018, by Anita Perry. chorus master of the Calgary Philharmonic, and Assistant Conductor for the Canadian Opera Company.
Early life and education
Thomson was born in St. Catharines, Ontario.[https://www.pressreader.com/canada/the-welland-tribune/20090123/282054797916770 "Local conductor returns for Sunday's concert"]. Welland Tribune, January 23, 2009.Lynn Peppas She received a Bachelor of Music degree (piano) from the University of Toronto and is also a graduate of their Advanced Graduate Conducting Program.[https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-sep-26-1997-p-28/ "Thomson emerges from Bramwells shadow"]. Winnipeg Free Press, via Newspaper Archives. September 26, 1997 - Page 28
Career
From 1994 to 1996 Thomson was the conductor for the Dundas Valley Orchestra in Hamilton, Ontario. In 1997 and 1998 she worked as a resident conductor for the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra.[https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-jan-17-2008-p-31/ "Pioneer on the podium"]. Winnipeg Free Press, via Newspaper Archives. January 17, 2008 - Page 31[https://newspaperarchive.com/winnipeg-free-press-feb-28-1999-p-23/ "Grooming the Golden Ass"]. Winnipeg Free Press, via Newspaper Archives. February 28, 1999 - Page 23 Thomson was hired as resident conductor of the Calgary Philharmonic orchestra for three seasons, beginning in 2001.[http://www.scena.org/lsm/sm7-1/notes.html "NOTES: Orchestra news"], La Scena Musicale, by Lucie Renaud / September 1, 2001 In 2006 she was a guest conductor for the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.[https://www.muskokaregion.com/news-story/3576101-mounds-of-sounds-and-stacks-of-brass/ "Mounds of sounds and stacks of brass"]. Huntsville Forester, Jun 30, 2006.
She served as principal conductor of the Okanagan Symphony orchestra from 2006 until 2023. She is now Conductor Emerita.
In 2008 Thomson was a guest conductor with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.[http://www.vancouversun.com/Review+Hander+choir+working+with/826683/story.html "Review: Two Hander has choir working with VSO"]. Vancouver Sun, Sept 24 2008, David Gordon Duke In 2011 she was chorus master of the Calgary Philharmonic and assistant conductor for the Canadian Opera Company.[https://www.artsco.ca/awards/2012-winners/ "2012 Winners"]. Okanagan Arts Awards.
In 2015 she conducted the Vancouver Opera Orchestra for the UBC Opera Ensemble's production of Manon,[https://www.ubyssey.ca/culture/ubc-opera-manon-294/ "Review: Manon is rich, striking and intense"]. The Ubyssey, Olivia Law, Nov. 6, 2015 and in 2018 Thomson conducted the orchestra for Opera Nuova’s farcical production The Arctic Flute in Edmonton.[https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/music/review-opera-nuova-sci-fi-echoes-and-random-jokes-in-farcical-the-arctic-flute-quite-entertaining "Review Opera Nuova: Sci-fi echoes and random jokes in farcical The Arctic Flute quite entertaining"]. Edmonton Journal, Mark Morris, June 26, 2018
Awards
- London Music Foundation Rosie Robinow Prize for promising pianist (1986)
- Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation Award for Orchestral Conductors (1998)
References
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External links
- Calgary Philharmonic. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110527144344/http://www.cpo-live.com/main/biography.php?id=35 Rosemary Thomson, Chorusmaster]
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Category:21st-century Canadian conductors (music)
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:21st-century Canadian women musicians