Guest co-host Kathleen Thompson keeps rising to new heights

Kathleen Thompson joins Steve Staruch as the guest co-host of this week's Project DJ on Classical MPR.

A junior at Century High School in Rochester, Thompson plays snare in her school's drum line, where she's learned the tricks of flipping her sticks in performance. She also has received performance scholarships from the American Guild of Organists, and in 2019 she won first place in the teen division of the Minnesota State Fair Talent Contest. Although the piano at the State Fair Grand Stand was covered with gnats on the evening of the competition, she soldiered on with a jazz piano version of "Fly Me to the Moon." She is contemplating a career in aviation.

What's the story of joining drum line?

"Starting in sixth grade, I joined the band as a percussionist and continued to be one in band all throughout middle school and freshman year of high school. The winter of freshman year, I attended an event called the Drumline Battle; this was a fundraiser where all three public high schools in Rochester showcased their drumlines and what they had been working on that year. As a freshman, you can't be on drumline yet so I went and watched. I thought it was the coolest thing ever. In the spring, I tried out for drumline with the hopes that I would get the spot. I auditioned for snare. Snare is not an easy spot to have, but I worked really hard for the audition and got the spot! That summer was really, really hard for me. We had to learn and memorize about 25 rallies. I memorized them all. Drumline is one of my favorite extracurricular activities. I have been on drumline for two years and hope to continue through my senior year."

How did the pipe organ enter your life?

"Three summers ago, my piano teacher received a call from one of the organ teachers at St. Olaf asking if he had any kids that would be interested in attending an organ camp. A boy with a full scholarship had dropped out. My teacher called me mom asking if I was interested, and I was like 'What? I've never played the organ before!' Well, I ended up going to the AGO (American Guild of Organists) Pipe Organ Encounter. I have never learned so much in one week. And by the end, I had played Bach's Prelude in F Major. After that, I auditioned for the American Guild of Organists student scholarship, which gives you money for organ lessons. I then began taking organ lessons the following summer, and six months later I was hired as the organist at the Congregational Church UCC in Rochester, where I have worked since January 2020."

Will you tell the story of the 2019 State Fair Talent Competition?

"In 2016, I started competing in the talent competition at the Minnesota State Fair. There's two ways you can get there. One, you can compete in the local county fair contest and win first place to receive a spot at state, or audition for the amateur talent competition. The first two years, I entered through the Rice County Fair, won first, got to the State Fair and lost in the semifinals. The third year, I made it to state and received second place, which still did not get me to finals because you had to win first. In 2019, I won first in every round and (finally) had the chance to compete on the State Fair Grand Stand stage, where I also won first place!"

Do you want to appear on Project DJ with Steve Staruch? If you're 14 to 24, apply now!