Kenneth Thompkins is principal trombone of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, appointed by Neeme Järvi. Prior to this, he held positions in the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Florida Orchestra.
Ken has been invited to perform and conduct masterclasses at many music schools, including the Curtis Institute of Music, The Eastman School of Music, the University of Michigan, and Interlochen Arts Academy. An active chamber musician, Ken performs frequently in recital and is a member of Detroit Chamber Winds & Strings. He has performed concertos with both the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and New World Symphony.
Ken can be heard on recordings by Detroit Chamber Winds, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. His solo trombone recording Sonatas, Songs and Spirituals features the music of Alec Wilder, Philip Wharton, Stephen A. Taylor, and William Grant Still.