Dawn Thompson

Ms. Thompson teaches vocal production and technique, improvisation, jazz and contemporary song styles to students at all levels. She specializes in helping students find what she refers to as the "natural voice."

Ms. Thompson studied at the University of Virginia and at Fordham University. She lived and worked for many years as a freelance vocalist in New York City, studied dance there, and worked with several dance theater companies. She founded the original music group Cosmology (Vanguard Records) and was featured in the vocal group Cakewalk led by Henry Krieger (Dream Girls, etc.) She has performed and/or recorded with guitarists John Abercrombie and John Scofield, bassist Rick Laird (Mahavishnu Orchestra,) saxophonists Michael Brecker and Dave Liebman, and jazz legends like Ralph Towner, John Coates Jr., Lionel Hampton and Teo Macero. Recently she performed with Pat Metheny on her own composition, The Visitors. She has also performed and recorded with singer/songwriter Dave Matthews.

She was featured on a PBS special and has performed at jazz festivals around the country. She co-founded the group Code Magenta (Espresso Records) with DMB saxophonist LeRoi Moore and Chapman Stickist Greg Howard. She also co-founded the Thompson D'earth Band (Cosmology Records) with her husband, John D'earth with whom she also performs regularly in the Charlottesville Swing Orchestra. Her most recent CDs are Mercury, with the Thompson D'earth Band, John D'earth - Thursday Night - Live at Miller's (both on Cosmology Records) and Code Magenta (Espresso.)