James Thompson is currently Professor of Trumpet at the renowned Eastman School of Music. He came to this position after having played Principal Trumpet in the Atlanta and Montreal Symphony Orchestras.
He has performed as soloist with orchestras in North and South America as well as Europe. He has made recital tours of Asia, North and South America as well as most of Europe.
Since joining the faculty of the Eastman School he has performed as guest Principal Trumpet with orchestras that include the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as the Baltimore, Seattle, and Boston Symphonys.
Mr. Thompson can be heard on CDs with the Montreal and Atlanta Symphonys, as well as solo and chamber projects. His recordings of the Shoshtakovitch Concerto #1 for Piano, Trumpet and Strings and Mahler Symphony #5 were Stereo Review’s records of the Month.
Mr. Thompson is a Yamaha Performing Artist.