Stanford Thompson is a musician and educator who serves as the Founder and Executive Director of Play On Philly and Founding Board Chairman of El Sistema USA and the National Instrumentalist Mentoring and Advancement Network. Recognized as a TED Fellow, Stanford believes that music is a powerful tool for positive personal and community change. Mr. Thompson serves on the faculty of the Global Leaders Program and regularly presents for major arts and business conferences, institutions, and stakeholders about leadership, entrepreneurship and social justice. As a principal of Goldsmith Strategies, he has guided the strategic development of dozens of organizations across the United States while collaborating with local and national initiatives to develop new strategies and programs that provide equitable access to the arts. As a professional trumpeter, Stanford has performed as a soloist and member with major orchestras around the world and continues to perform throughout the Philadelphia region. Stanford is a native of Atlanta, GA, a graduate of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra’s Talent Development Program and holds degrees from The Curtis Institute of Music and the New England Conservatory’s Sistema Fellows Program
Takeaways
Building relationships with others is crucial for personal growth and success. It is important to establish meaningful connections, share talents, and uplift others.
It is powerful to be part of a wider collective and take charge of building our own networks instead of relying solely on big institutions.
Advice for nonprofit and for-profit organizations.
Organizations should prioritize relationship building and make time to develop meaningful connections.
Advice for young people in preparing themselves for the real world.
In the face of disruption, it is important to think ahead and prepare for the future, especially for young artists.
Advice for young musicians to encourage them to expound the possibilities that would work for them.
Young musicians should focus on developing their skills, keeping all options open, and exploring possibilities that work for them.
Social Media Links
Website: https://www.stanfordthompson.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StanfordLeonThompson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sltstanford/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stanfordleon
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stanfordleon
What’s Next?!
Thank you for supporting this show by listening and sharing with your friends. If you liked this podcast, please rate and write a review of how this show has helped you. This will help us be able to increase our visibility nationally and in being able to make an impact on the profession.
If you would like to hear more about any specific topics, please email us at info@themoderartistproject.com. I would love to help support your community in all artistic disciplines.
Kristine Dizon
The Modern Artist Project
