Trina Thompson, pianist and theorist, is an assistant professor of music at Andrews University, a position she has held since 2009. She previously taught music theory (2000-2002) and served as interim chair of the music department (2001-2002) at Walla Walla College, now University.

A 1998 WWC graduate with majors in music, humanities, and Spanish, she completed an M.Mus. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at Northern Illinois University in 2000. She is presently a Ph.D. candidate in music theory at Indiana University. During her study at IU, she was a dissertation year fellow in the theory department.

A preparatory and undergraduate student of Debra Richter for twelve years, Thompson won many awards and honors for her playing, including numerous medals in the Spokane Allied Arts Festival. A National Merit Finalist, she placed first in the Scholarship Audition music program for entering freshmen at WWC in 1993. She subsequently was awarded departmental honors scholarships in all three majors and was recipient of the 1996 Thomas Hampson Humanities Scholarship Award, the most prestigious award in the humanities at WWC.

Thompson was a popular student teacher in the piano preparatory program at WWC for seven years and assisted Richter in running the division. In her senior year, the music students and faculty at WWC selected her as one of two Outstanding Music Majors of the Year.

ds/2009

Sources: Opus, Walla Walla College music department newsletter, 1998, 5 and 25; Opus, 2000, 22; IAMA Notes, Summer/Autumn 2000, 21, 22; Andrews University Focus, Summer 2009, 13; Personal Knowledge.