August 20, 2025
A journey that began in the practice rooms of the Butler School of Music has reached the top of the classical music world. Isaac Thompson has been named President and CEO of the Minnesota Orchestra, one of the most prestigious ensembles in the world.
Though now a seasoned leader in the classical music industry, Thompson began as a performer focused on honing his craft. He arrived in Austin to pursue a master’s degree in violin performance, studying under renowned violinist and professor Brian Lewis. “It was a great experience, the performance education I got studying with Brian Lewis was exceptional, he was an amazing teacher,” Thompson recalled. He also shared fond memories of working with other esteemed faculty members, including violist Roger Myers.
But while his path began on stage, it was a pivotal relationship outside of the performance realm that helped steer him into a new direction: arts management. During his time at Butler, Thompson connected deeply with Robert Freeman, the former Dean of the College of Fine Arts.
“Bob and I became really close friends while I was in grad school, and he was really the person who set me on this orchestra management track,” Thompson said. That kind of close personal mentorship, he noted, was part of what made the College of Fine Arts stand out. “That is one of the (College of Fine Arts) qualities, there is real hands-on faculty interaction. You can really develop a relationship in a way that I haven’t seen elsewhere, and that mentorship really makes a huge difference.”
Under Freeman’s guidance, Thompson began shifting from a purely performance-focused mindset to a more entrepreneurial approach. He took initiative by creating the Marfa Piano Trio and organizing an extensive tour of West Texas, handling everything from fundraising to logistics. That real-world experience proved transformational.
Former Dean of the College of Fine Arts, Robert Freeman
When Thompson completed his degree, Freeman again played a crucial role by helping him secure his first job in orchestral administration. “He had incredible connections and introduced me to Tom Morris, who was the former head of the Boston Symphony and head of the Cleveland Orchestra,” Thompson recalled. “Tom got me my first job with the Cleveland Orchestra.”
From there, Thompson’s career soared. He held key leadership roles across some of the most respected institutions in American classical music, including Director of Artistic Administration at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Managing Director of the New York Philharmonic, and President and CEO of the Oregon Symphony. Now, he steps into the top leadership position at the Minnesota Orchestra, an ensemble recently honored as Gramophone’s 2021 Orchestra of the Year.
Minnesota Orchestra
Reflecting on his journey, Thompson offered advice to current College of Fine Arts students: “Talk to everyone, talk to faculty as well as to the administration. I found (The College of Fine Arts) to be incredibly open in that way. When you explore those mentorship opportunities, it opens doors to other interesting pathways that you might not be thinking of.”