Rosemary Thomson
Rosemary Thomson is a Canadian conductor and chorus master. As of 2018, she is the Music Director of the Okanagan Symphony Orchestra,[1][2] chorus master of the Calgary Philharmonic, and Assistant Conductor for the Canadian Opera Company.
Early life and education[edit]
Thomson was born in St. Catharines, Ontario.[3] She received a Bachelor of Music degree (piano) from the University of Toronto and is also a graduate of their Advanced Graduate Conducting Program.[4]
Career[edit]
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.[5][6] Thomson was hired as resident conductor of the Calgary Philharmonic orchestra for three seasons, beginning in 2001.[7] In 2006 she was a guest conductor for the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra.[8]
She served as principal conductor of the Okanagan Symphony orchestra from 2006 until 2023, until she was fired on December 1, 2023.[9] In 2008 Thomson was a guest conductor with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.[10] In 2011 she was chorus master of the Calgary Philharmonic and assistant conductor for the Canadian Opera Company.[11]
In 2015 she conducted the Vancouver Opera Orchestra for the UBC Opera Ensemble's production of Manon,[12] and in 2018 Thomson conducted the orchestra for Opera Nuova’s farcical production The Arctic Flute in Edmonton.[13]
Awards[edit]
- London Music Foundation Rosie Robinow Prize for promising pianist (1986)
- Sir Ernest MacMillan Memorial Foundation Award for Orchestral Conductors (1998)
References[edit]
- ^ "Review: Okanagan Symphony dazzles with Verdi’s Requiem". Vernon Morning Star, Nov. 12, 2018, Concert review by Anita Perry
- ^ "Concert review: Yuletide Tales". Summerland REview, Dec. 25, 2018, by Anita Perry.
- ^ "Local conductor returns for Sunday's concert". Welland Tribune, January 23, 2009.Lynn Peppas
- ^ "Thomson emerges from Bramwells shadow". Winnipeg Free Press, via Newspaper Archives. September 26, 1997 - Page 28
- ^ "Pioneer on the podium". Winnipeg Free Press, via Newspaper Archives. January 17, 2008 - Page 31
- ^ "Grooming the Golden Ass". Winnipeg Free Press, via Newspaper Archives. February 28, 1999 - Page 23
- ^ "NOTES: Orchestra news", La Scena Musicale, by Lucie Renaud / September 1, 2001
- ^ "Mounds of sounds and stacks of brass". Huntsville Forester, Jun 30, 2006.
- ^ "'Brokenhearted': Former Okanagan Symphony music director will sue after surprise termination. Castanet, Dec 8, 2023
- ^ "Review: Two Hander has choir working with VSO". Vancouver Sun, Sept 24 2008, David Gordon Duke
- ^ "2012 Winners". Okanagan Arts Awards.
- ^ "Review: Manon is rich, striking and intense". The Ubyssey, Olivia Law, Nov. 6, 2015
- ^ "Review Opera Nuova: Sci-fi echoes and random jokes in farcical The Arctic Flute quite entertaining". Edmonton Journal, Mark Morris, June 26, 2018