The San Francisco Symphony has announced the winner of its sixth annual Emerging Black Composers Project award. The Michael Morgan Prize, now named after the late great conductor of the Oakland Symphony, goes to jazz composer and mallet percussionist Christopher Thompson.
The award carries a $15,000 commissioning fee for a work to be performed by the SF Symphony during the 2027-2028 season. Thompson will also be mentored by members of the selection committee and receive resources to workshop his piece at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, which is a supporting partner to the program.
An excited Thompson said, ““Getting that call was such a surreal experience, and I still do not quite have the words to express my excitement for the work ahead. It is always an amazing feeling to hear that others see and believe in your vision. I can't wait to explore the power of rap notation as a compositional force with the San Francisco Symphony in a way that is genuine and authentic, without sacrificing the ensemble's classical identity and technical prowess. I look forward to the relationships, mentorships, and the opportunity to work with such a high-class group of musicians. This feels like a dream come true, and I am truly honored to be selected for the Michael Morgan Prize among the esteemed ranks of previous award winners.”
The musician, also known as “Master Christopher,” is a multi-disciplined composer-performer who creates innovative ways to blur the distinction between genres. Through his project “Music Desegregation,” he merges contemporary art music, jazz, and percussion with notated rap.
Currently based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Thompson serves as lecturer of music for the City University of New York while also pursuing a DMA degree in music composition at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. He is a proud alumnus of an HBCU, North Carolina A&T State University, and holds a master’s degree in percussion performance and a post baccalaureate certificate in jazz studies from the University of North Carolina Greensboro School of Music. Thompson currently serves on the board of the Alliance of Black Orchestral Percussionists, is a member of the Percussive Arts Society New Music/Research committee, and is an endorsed artist for Marimba One and Black Swamp Percussion.
As usual the prize was awarded through an anonymous review process by a selection committee led by Emerging Black Composers Project Chair Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser and including SFCM Music Director Edwin Outwater.
“Christopher Thompson was the clear favorite among the jurors this year,” said Bartholomew-Poyser. “His voice is extremely compelling, his music memorable, and his scores full of exacting detail. Christopher is poised to take the orchestral world in new directions, and his powerful writing will be a delight to take in, come the night of the premiere. We are really excited about Christopher and look forward to mentoring and supporting his success, both with this commission and everything else!”
“I’m thrilled that the Emerging Black Composers Project can help bring Christopher Thompson’s piece to life,” said Outwater. “Based on his submitted work, and his plans for his San Francisco Symphony premiere, I can confidently say that we will be hearing something totally original and new. Christopher is an artist who really shines, both as a composer and performer. As the EBCP moves forward into its sixth year, the variety of musical styles and voices continues to expand, and the quality of the work is truly inspiring.”
