Mallory Thompson salutes a mentor, CSO trumpet Vincent Cichowicz

Mallory Thompson shares a longstanding connection with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. While at Northwestern University, she earned an undergraduate degree in 1979 in trumpet performance under Vincent Cichowicz (1927-2016), a renowned CSO member from 1952 to 1974. Widely regarded as one of the most influential brass pedagogues of the 20th century, he taught at Northwestern from 1959 to 1998.

Director of bands at Northwestern University for nearly three decades and globally recognized for her passionate, insightful interpretations, Thompson also received a master of music degree in conducting as a student of John P. Paynter, the Bienen School’s second director of bands. She makes her Civic Orchestra of Chicago podium debut in concerts on Feb. 15 and Feb 16 (both with the Civic Wind Ensemble) in a program of landmark pieces from Mozart and Richard Strauss to Holst, Stravinsky and Tower. The Feb. 15 concert is a collaborative performance with musicians of the Vernon Hills High School band program.

In 1996, Thompson made history as the first woman to be named director of bands at Northwestern and only the third person to hold the title. She retired in 2024, after a celebratory series of performances that culminated as hundreds of alumni returned to campus to attend her final Northwestern concert. 

“I am going out with bright eyes,” Thompson told NU’s Fanfare magazine. “I’m really grateful and have no regrets. I feel good about the timing, loving the music and the students, and about loving Northwestern the way I do.”

While at Northwestern, Thompson directed the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, taught undergraduate and graduate conducting and administered all aspects of the band program. She held the John W. Beattie Chair of Music and was coordinator of the school’s conducting program. In 2003, she was named a Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Teaching Excellence. She made five recordings with NU’s Symphonic Wind Ensemble for Summit Records and led the ensemble in performances at the College Band Directors National Association conventions in 2001 and 2017. 

“The greatest honor of my professional life has been conducting the Symphonic Wind Ensemble,” Thompson said. “I’m proud of the music we have made together and our commitment to honoring the talents of our students every day.”

Northwestern recognized Thompson’s contributions to the NU community by awarding her emeritus status. She remains artistic director of the Northshore Concert Band, a position she’s held since 2003, and plans to continue guest conducting in her retirement. “Anywhere I go in the world, I’m going to plant the purple flag,” she said. “I will always be an advocate and a very noisy supporter for Northwestern, because that’s my home.”

Please note: Mallory Thompson regrettably had to withdraw from Civic Wind Ensemble performances on Feb. 15-16, due to a broken ankle that requires immediate medical attention.