Confederates at the Keyboard: Southern Piano Music During the Civil War Era

The Civil War 150 exhibition is now on display in the Library. We are excited to have Dr. David Thompson with us for our opening program. Dr. Thompson will present a lecture with recital on “Confederates at the Keyboard: Southern Piano Music during the Civil War Era” in the Hannah Lide Coker Recital Hall on Tuesday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

Thompson, a South Carolina native, completed his master’s and doctorate in piano pedagogy at the University of South Carolina and his bachelor’s in piano performance at Limestone College. He is a member of the College Music Society, Music Teachers National Association, and Music Educators National Conference.  He recently completed a two-year term as State President of the South Carolina Music Teachers Association.

Thompson is currently professor of music at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C.  He teaches private and group piano, music theory and history. Thompson also accompanies the college–community chorus and serves as co-chair of the musical theater major.  A nationally certified piano teacher, Thompson maintains an active schedule as soloist, collaborative artist and adjudicator.  He adjudicates for many organizations including the Music Teachers National Association, the National Guild of Piano Teachers and the National Federation of Junior Music Clubs. Thompson has performed in many different national and international venues, including the United States, England, Germany, Austria, Korea and Iceland.  

Thompson has presented programs, lectures and recitals for various musical and historical events including the Society for American Music National Conference, The Civil War and American Society Seminar, The Spoleto Festival, Civil War Music Heritage Gathering and Encampment, the Symposium on South Carolina Civil War History, South Carolina Music Teachers Convention and College Music Society Mid-Atlantic Conference.

His publications include a CD recording entitled “Confederates at the Keyboard: Southern Piano Music during the Civil War Era” and an essay by the same title published in “Bugles Resounding: Music and Musicians of the Civil War Era” published by the University of Missouri Press.

This event is a part of Civil War 150, a national traveling exhibition from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History from Mar. 31 to Apr. 21 hosted by The Charles W. & Joan S. Coker Library-Information Technology Center. The Gilder Lehrman Institute developed the exhibition to mark the Civil War Sesquicentennial.