PPP 331: Technique is a tool that serves performance with Ken Thompson

In 2023 Kenneth Thompson was honored with the Leadership in Education Award from Musical Bridges Around the World (MBAW).  He is a recipient of the Texas Music Teachers Association’s Pre-Collegiate Teacher of the Year Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from MBAW for his work in raising the level of piano teaching in San Antonio.  He received a BM in Piano Performance from the Eastman School of Music where his teachers were Nelita True and Anton Nel.

            Mr. Thompson has performed extensively as a chamber musician and soloist.  He developed a Music of the Americas program that he performed in Atlanta’s prestigious Spivey Hall and at concert series in Texas and Florida.   He also performed frequently as orchestral pianist with the San Antonio Symphony.  Feeling a calling to teach, Mr. Thompson turned his attention to the development of pre-college advanced pianists. 

Mr. Thompson’s piano students have performed more than 120 complete solo recital programs and performed more than 40 times as soloists with orchestra including many performances with the San Antonio Symphony.  He has had several students perform in New York at Carnegie Hall and has had two students perform on National Public Radio’s hit show “From the Top”.

Mr. Thompson’s students have gone into music programs at some of the world’s top music schools including the Juilliard School of Music, the Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory, and Oberlin Conservatory.  His students have won top prizes in every pre-college piano competition in Texas.  He and his students have been interviewed and performed several times on Texas Public Radio.  Several alumni students have gone on to achieve Doctorates in Piano Performance, teach at major universities and perform all over the world.  

Mr. Thompson has given workshops to music teacher’s associations throughout Texas and he wrote and co-authored two articles for American Music Teacher Magazine. 

In 1999 Mr. Thompson founded the Musical Arts Centers of San Antonio, Inc. (MACSA).  MACSA has over 49 teachers and staff and over 1200 students at its two locations in San Antonio.  He serves MACSA as CEO and leads its “ Professional Development Sessions” for teachers.  He is featured on Episode No. 38 and Snapshot No. 1 of the “Music Studio Startup” podcast with host Andrea Miller.

Mr. Thompson’s teachers include: Nelita True, Anton Nel, Anna Haun, John Weems, Carolyn True, Christopher Wallace, and Jean Barr.  He lives in San Antonio with his wife, Lina, and his son Bryce. 

Connect with Ken through MACSA on

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