Thr!ve
National Symposium on Collaboration in Youth Arts Education

Presented by Stanford Thompson
October 14 - 16, 2010
Milwaukee Youth Arts Center

Arts advocates from all disciplines – youth arts educators, community leaders, funders, decision-makers, influencers are coming together to discuss how we can create, nurture and maintain vibrant and sustainable arts education programs. Youth arts education programs carry a massive value for our communities. Because as financial challenges mount, our resources are cut and our need to find ways to simply survive becomes more urgent with each day. Because we must recognize opportunities to preserve what we have and build upon it for the future.

Learn more about the symposium.

Orchestra R/Evolution
League of American Orchestras

Presented by Stanford Thompson
June 18, 2010
Hyatt Regency Hotel- Atlanta, GA

Stanford joined a panel from the Atlanta Symphony to discuss how a diverse musical organziation can best serve its community. Joined by Beth Wilson (Director, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program), Joseph Conyers (Assistant Principal Bass, Philadelphia Orchestra), Drew Forde (Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program), and Edie Bostic (Volunteer, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program).

2010 YOLA Symposium
Composing Change: YOLA and the El Sistema Movement

Presented by the Abreu Fellows
May 6, 2010
EXPO Center - Los Angeles, CA

Stanford shared his experiences from his two month residency in Venezuela with the Abreu Fellows. Learn more about the symposium here.

TED 2010
"What the World Needs Now..."

Presented by the Abreu Fellows
February 10, 2010
Long Beach, CA

Stanford performed and spoke at the TED 2010 Conference with the Abreu Fellows. The presentation was a follow-up to Jose Abreu's 2009 TED Prize Wish.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
"Your Future in Music: Full of Possibilities"

Presented by Stanford and Adrienne Thompson
December 5, 2009
Woodruff Arts Center - CenterSpace

Stanford and Adrienne have two infectious passions: a life and career in music and helping others realize their untapped love for it -- and by extension, our untapped love for all new possibilities, new experiences and new connections that a life and/or career through music brings. All musicians are strongly encouraged to join our discussion as we look at long term visions for building your life and career through music.

TEDx Peachtree - Atlanta, GA
Savannah College of Art and Design
December 4th, 2009

"What if..." an el Sistema-inspired program was developed in Atlanta?

El Sistema Atlanta: Transformation through Music. The vision of Dr. José Abreu, winner of the 2009 TED Prize, changed the life trajectory of hundreds of thousands of a nations youth while transforming the communities in which they live. Stanford Thompson explained how el Sistema is more than just a music program, however how it is an example of real life.

TEA-A Conference - Atlanta, GA
October 1-4, 2009

[ transcript of the speech ]

Teachers for East Africa - Alumni (TEA-A) is a non-profit organization supporting secondary schools in the East African nations of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Members have lived and taught in East Africa for two years or more. Stanford presented the implementation, effect and future of the Meru Instrumental Music Project.

To learn more about how you can be involved in helping this program, e-mail Stanford at stan@stanfordthompson.com

MIMP Video Archive | MIMP Blog

Concert for Kenya
Hosted by Emory University

Stanford performed a special concert to introduce his involvement in the Meru Instrumental Music Project. As part of the performance, an interactive lecture about the work done in Kenya and what would be accomplished was presented.

MIMP Video Archive | MIMP Blog

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
"Leave It Better Than You Found It"

[ read the article ]

The feature article written for the November 2008 Encore Atlanta playbill for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra that highlights the contributions of Mrs. Azira G. Hill to the ASO Talent Development Program and the experiences Stanford had in the program.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Talent Development Program
"The Search for the Holy Grail"

Presented by Stanford and Adrienne Thompson
November 9, 2007 - 6:30PM-8:30PM
Woodruff Arts Center - Atlanta, GA

This interactive lecture discussed what my family learned going through the college audition process five times. We discussed everything from the needed musical preparation to healthy mental approaches for both the parents and students as they foster their musical careers.