Biography

J. Curtis Thompson is an active performer, instructor, educator, and recording artist. He has performed classical, modern, musical theater, and popular music throughout the United States. Being a multi-instrumentalist with a deep love for most genres of music, Thompson’s life work is to perform and record classical guitar works of the early 20th century. In 2018, Thompson has served as the guitar instructor at Idaho State University. A strong advocate for music education in the public schools, Thompson spent his first year visiting local schools in the rural towns of Idaho, where he would instruct students and teachers in practical approaches to learning the guitar. Within the music department, he developed curriculum for guitarists entering the then newly formed Commercial Music program. A highlight of Thompson’s tenure was his performance of the Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s Guitar Concerto No. 1 in October of 2021 with the Idaho State Civic Symphony. In addition to major works for orchestra, Thompson pursued chamber music collaborations with string quartets and flautists.
Thompson holds two degrees in classical guitar performance: a Bachelor of Music from Idaho State University, where he studied with Bill O’Bien, and a Master of Music from Northern Arizona University, where he studied with Tom Sheeley. One of core beliefs that drives Thompson’s interpretation is the inextricable connection of music and nature. During his graduate work, Thompson not only performed in masterclasses with Scott Tenant and Vladamir Gorbach, but competed in the 2014 GFA Symposium.
Since moving to the Moorhead area in August 2022, Thompson has had the pleasure of performing with the Big Band Jazz at Side Street, the Fargo-Moorhead Community Theater (Miracle on 34th Street), Moorhead High School (Rock of Ages), as well as Post Traumatic Funk. Thompson’s debut album, Tonada, is set for release in 2023. This album contains some of Thompson’s most beloved repertoire, which includes works by Ponce, Barrios, Villa-Lobos, and Lauro.