About
Kenneth Thompkins
Kenneth Thompkins is currently the Associate Professor of Trombone at Michigan State University. He was Principal Trombone of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra from 1997 to 2024. Prior to this appointment he held positions in the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and The Florida Orchestra. He has also performed with the New World Symphony under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas.
Thompkins enjoys working with young musicians and has performed masterclasses and recitals at many universities including the Curtis Institute of Music, The Juilliard School, and the Eastman School of Music. He has also been on faculty at the National Orchestral Institute, National Youth Orchestra, and Taipei Music Festival and Academy.
In 2017 Thompkins recorded Sonatas, Songs and Spirituals featuring the music of Alec Wilder, William Grant Still and Philip Wharton. Sonatas, Songs and Spirituals was the winner of The American Prize in Instrumental Performance for 2018-2019. His latest recording, Compelling Portraits, features the compositions of contemporary Black composers including James Lee III, Brian Nabors, Kevin Day, Maurice Draughn and Shawn Okpebholo. He has performed as a soloist with Chineke! and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. He can also be heard on recordings with the New World Symphony and the Detroit Symphony.
My Instruments
“I love the sound of Greenhoe Trombones and fully endorse using them”
My Organizations
Michigan State University
Michigan State University College of Music Mission Statement:
To provide the highest quality professional instruction; to instill in students a dedication and desire to achieve excellence and understanding in all aspects of their musical education; to develop their abilities to the highest professional standards; to expand cultural awareness and diversity; to provide access for comprehensive non-degree instruction; to participate in community, state, regional, national and international arenas through service, teaching, research and performance; and to support an excellent faculty vitally engaged in significant research, scholarly and creative endeavors.
Detroit Symphony Orchestra
The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, America’s fourth-oldest, has a history as varied and exciting as that of its hometown. The DSO has been at the center of Detroit’s musical heartbeat for more than 130 years, but it has faced plenty of challenges – including finding stages to play on, nearing (and sometimes entering) bankruptcy, saving its historic concert hall from demolition, and a bitter strike.
Now, two decades into the 21st century, the DSO is spreading a forward-thinking, accessibility-first mission throughout Detroit and the world. We pride ourselves on artistic excellence and our commitment to the city we call home.
Sphinx
Kenneth is a member of the Sphinx organization and strongly endorses it. What is Sphinx?
The Sphinx Organization is a social justice organization dedicated to transforming lives through the power of diversity in the arts.
Focused on increasing representation of Black and Latinx artists in classical music and recognizing excellence, Sphinx programs serve beginner students to seasoned classical music professionals, as well as cultural entrepreneurs and administrators.
Based in Detroit, Michigan, but with nationwide reach, Sphinx envisions a day where the classical music field looks like our communities: where every young person has the opportunity to express themselves and learn classical music; where audiences reflect the people we see on our streets; and where leadership—on stage and off—includes all deserving voices.
Equity Arc
Equity Arc provides specialized mentoring support for young BIPOC musicians and helps institutions take meaningful steps toward equity and inclusion. We pursue a multi-dimensional approach to create positive outcomes for musicians of color.
NAAS
The National Alliance for Audition Support (NAAS) is an unprecedented national initiative to increase diversity in American orchestras. It does so by offering Black and Latinx musicians a customized combination of mentoring, audition preparation, financial support, and audition previews. NAAS is made up of the Sphinx Organization, the lead program administrator and fiscal agent for the Alliance; the New World Symphony, America’s Orchestral Academy; and the League of American Orchestras, representing 700 orchestras. A group of Black and Latinx professional musicians act as thought leaders, guides, and advisors for the Alliance. NAAS is supported by a three-year grant of $1.95M from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation as well as contributions from over 100 orchestras across the U.S.