Dr. Bradley Thompson
Coordinator of Voice Studies
Assistant Professor
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Contact Area Classes |
Lyric baritone Bradley Thompson joined the faculty of the Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2003 and was named Visiting Assistant Professor of Music and Coordinator of Vocal Studies in 2009. Dr. Thompson has taught courses in applied voice, class voice, and opera studies, and has served as the staging and musical director in programs of opera scenes as well as full opera productions. In 2007, Dr. Thompson was the musical director and conductor for the world premiere of The Lady or the Tiger at MSU Denver. He has appeared with the MSU Denver Symphony Orchestra as a solo faculty artist in performances of Haydn’s Nelsonmesse, the Mozart Requiem, and Orff’s monumental Carmina burana. Since joining the faculty of Music at MSU Denver, Dr. Thompson has been invited to give presentations at the Denver School of the Arts and at Colorado State University. He is also in demand as an adjudicator and evaluator, having done so for organizations such as Colorado Humanities and Classical Singer magazine.
Bradley Thompson is perhaps best known to audiences for his operatic performances. Carol Rasmussen of the Boulder Daily Camera calls his "a strong, attractive voice with agility and range." His repertoire displays a great deal of versatility in a wide range of both comic and dramatic roles. He has made appearances with Opera Colorado where his portrayal of Fiorello was called "expertly delivered" by the Rocky Mountain News. He has also appeared with Capitol City Opera Company of Atlanta, Utah Festival Opera, Opera Fort Collins, and Opera Theatre of the Rockies. Thompson has performed as both Marcello and Schaunard in La bohème, Morales in Carmen, Peter in Hänsel und Gretel, Marullo in Rigoletto, Ping in Turandot, Ford in The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Warden George Benton in Dead Man Walking. He is especially at home performing the baritone roles of Mozart, having sung the roles of Figaro, Guglielmo, and Masetto, as well as covering Don Giovanni. He most recently garnered favorable reviews as Papageno in the Opera Theatre of the Rockies production of Die Zauberflote.
Dr. Thompson is also celebrated for his notable work on the concert stage. He was most recently featured as a soloist in Haydn’s Creation with the Littleton Chorale. He has also appeared with the Colorado Symphony, the Denver Philharmonic, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and other orchestras along the Front Range. He appeared as a part of the prestigious 2000 Colorado Mahlerfest and was the featured soloist for the opening concert of the 2001 Boulder Bach Festival. Dr. Thompson was also invited as a guest artist for the renowned 121st annual Bethany Messiah Festival. His oratorio credits include performances of the St. Matthew Passion, Messiah, Carmina Burana, King David, The Creation, and the title role of Elijah. An avid performer of new music, Dr. Thompson has premiered several new works including David Kirtley’s chamber opera In the Father’s Garden and other works written specifically for him.
Bradley Thompson has been a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and was the grand prizewinner in the 2001 Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition. He was awarded both the Galen and Ada Belle Spencer Voice Fellowship and the Frank and Gina Day Voice Teaching Fellowship at the University of Colorado. In 2004, he was the Gold Award winner in the Scammon International Voice Competition.
A native of Norcross, Georgia, Dr. Thompson received his undergraduate degree from Furman University (magna cum laude) where he was inducted into the national society of Phi Beta Kappa. His post-graduate education continued at the Florida State University and the University of Georgia where he was awarded the School of Music Director’s Excellence Award. He received the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado. In 2009, he was one of twelve voice teachers selected from these United States and Canada for the National Association of Teachers of Singing Intern Program where he studied with renowned pedagogue Dr. Scott McCoy. He received training as an apprentice both with Opera Colorado and the Utah Festival Opera and now performs as a member of the Central City Opera Ensemble. He is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Professional Fraternity for Men in Music, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
