Conductor
Educator
Scholar
What People Are Saying
“Jason has the ability to get the best sound out of the orchestra. He is respectful but demands exactly what is needed for the character of the music be it lyricism, majesty, rhythmic precision, or a certain tone color. He is a brilliant conductor with a profound knowledge of music of varied styles. Collaborating with Jason was an exhilarating musical experience.”
— Phoenix Park-Kim, concert pianist
“We love having Jason Luke Thompson as principal conductor and artistic director of the Symphony of the Lakes. Jason is easy to work with, yet he is able to pull musical excellence from all sections of our orchestra. Musicians love him—he is creative in his programming and works well as a team member. He’s elevated our orchestra to a new, higher standard.”
— Terry White, board member
Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts
“As a lyric theatre director, Jason was ideal! The orchestra was always prepared, sensitive, and responsive. He is clear, efficient, concise, kind, and a team player throughout rehearsals and the sitzprobe, and I always knew the production was in excellent hands during the run. His direction gave the actors onstage the confidence and freedom to be fully present in their characters and to be one with the music.”
— Tammie Huntington, opera director
Meet Jason
Jason Luke Thompson is an exceptional and versatile musician whose unique blend of enthusiasm and attention to detail make him a valuable and highly sought-out conductor. He uses his training in historical performance to bring a freshness and authenticity to everything he conducts, from early music to great masterworks to orchestral pops.
Jason is highly active as a conductor, educator, and presenter. He is the principal conductor of the Symphony of the Lakes and is a professor of music at Indiana Wesleyan University. He regularly guest conducts, presents at national conferences, and leads early music from the baroque violin.
Jason’s research includes a wide variety of early and sacred music topics including liturgical reconstruction, plainchant, tuning and temperaments, and affect. He regularly presents and creates unique performance projects connected with these topics.
Whether conducting orchestral, sacred or early music, Jason loves to create unique thematic programs that bring audiences on a memorable journey.