Bienen School faculty member Mallory Thompson will be awarded the prestigious Medal of Honor at the International Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic on December 18, 2019. 

The Medal of Honor was introduced in 1962 as a way to honor conductors, educators, composers, and others whose unique service to music education and continuing influence on the development and improvement of bands and orchestras deserve special recognition. The Midwest Clinic also presents the Music Industry Award and the International Award at the annual event.

Dr. Thompson is director of bands, professor of music, coordinator of the conducting program, and holds the John W. Beattie Chair of Music at Northwestern. As the third person in the university's history to hold the director of bands position, Thompson conducts the Symphonic Wind Ensemble (SWE), teaches undergraduate and graduate conducting, and administers all aspects of the band program. 

In June, SWE commemorated its 50th anniversary with a celebration of music and fellowship in Evanston. Nearly 200 alumni—representing virtually every major orchestra and US military ensemble—returned to campus for the reunion weekend. Under Thompson since 1996 as SWE’s second director, the group has maintained a legacy of excellence, participating in dozens of recent commissioning consortia and presenting numerous world premieres.  Learn more about SWE50


  • Mallory Thompson