Tenor is guest at next St. Paul's Chamber Music Series

By Staff
special to The Star
Oct. 6, 2002
Lelon Thompson is the guest musician at St. Paul's Chamber Music Series on Thursday.
Thompson, a tenor and a native of Mississippi, received his formal training in voice at the Metropolitan Opera Studios in New York City.
During his 12 years of study in New York, Thompson was a finalist in the Eleanor Steve Vocal Competition and a recitalist in the Trinity Church of New York City Artist Series and the Artist Series of Brooklyn.
He also performed numerous musical theater roles for New York audiences, including Ravenal in "Showboat" and Lt. Cable in "South Pacific."
More recently, Thompson has performed leading roles in the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra's production of "A Broadway Gala Evening," "The Mikado," "H.M.S. Pinafore" and "Oklahoma!"
In the Mississippi Opera's most recent production of "My Fair Lady," he played the role of Freddy Eynsford-Hill.
Thompson has also been featured in musical theater roles at New Stage Theatre in Jackson and as Rex in "Shooting Stars, Blue Skies."
He served as an instructor of theater arts at Jackson Public School's Academic and Performing Arts Complex.
During his 10 years at APAC, he was selected as a Fulbright Memorial Scholar to Japan. He also received Emerson College of Boston's Outstanding Teacher Award and Parents for Public School's Teacher of the Year Award.
He currently resides in Jackson, where he serves as minister of music at Wells Church. He performs as a solo artist regionally and is also a private voice instructor.
Jaime Ward will accompany Thompson on the piano.