Kenneth Thompkins, Associate Professor of Trombone at Michigan State University and Principal Trombonist of the Detroit Symphony will perform a trombone recital. Thompkins will perform music by African American composers William Grant Still, Kevin Day, and Brian Nabors as well as works by Alec Wilder and Ida Gotkovsky. Julie Nishimura, retired collaborative pianist of the University of Delaware School of Music, returns to perform alongside Mr. Thompkins on this program.

Kenneth Thompkins was appointed Principal Trombone of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra by Neeme Jarvi. Prior to this appointment he held positions in the Buffalo Philharmonic and The Florida Orchestra and New World Symphony Orchestra. 

He has also performed with the New York Philharmonic, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, and Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Thompkins enjoys working with young musicians and has performed masterclasses and recitals at many universities including the Curtis Institute of Music, University of Michigan, and the Eastman School of Music. 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. Compelling Portraits is Thompkins’ 2023 recording featuring the trombone chamber music of contemporary Black composers. The composers featured on this recording are Kevin Day, Shawn Okpebholo, Brian Raphael Nabors, Maurice Draughn and James Lee III. Compelling Portraits was generously supported by the Sphinx Organization’s MPower Grant. Thompkins has performed as a soloist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Chineke! Orchestra and New World Symphony. In 2023 Thompkins performed the world premiere of “Troubled Water,” a trombone concerto by Carlos Simon, with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra