Carolyn M. Mawby is Emeritus Faculty at the University of Michigan-Flint, where she was one of the founding faculty members of the Music Department. In that capacity, she founded the University Chorale, the University Chamber Singers and the Summer Academy of Music.

She is the recipient of the A. Raymond Roth Award in recognition of "Exemplary contributions to Music Education in the Flint Community", the Maynard Klein Award in recognition of "Artistic excellence and a lifetime of leadership in the field of choral music", and the Michigan Music Educators Association "Outstanding Administrator" Award. The University of Michigan-Flint Chamber Singers under Miss Mawby's direction were selected to perform on American Choral Directors Association and Michigan Music Educators conventions on several occasions.

Before coming to the University of Michigan-Flint, Miss Mawby taught choral music at Grand Blanc High School. While there, her high school groups were invited performers at Midwest Music Conferences on numerous occasions. The Grand Blanc High School Chamber Singers were selected as the Outstanding Small Ensemble in the state of Michigan.

Miss Mawby earned a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Michigan State University and a Master of Music History and Literature degree from Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. Matthew Thompson, piano, just received his Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Michigan where he studied with Martin Katz. His three dissertation concerts reflect his varying musical tastes and interests: “Piano trios: female composers,” “Vertical Tastings: a comparative song recital,” and “American Popular Song Accompanying: a lecture recital.” In completing his last concert, Matthew became the first collaborative pianist at Michigan to present a recital on performing popular music as well as the first collaborative pianist to win a University of Michigan Rackham research grant, allowing him to conduct research at the Library of Congress.

Matthew continues his proud affiliation with the Carolyn Mawby Chorale where he has served as both pianist and guest conductor.

One of his great joys is presenting song recitals with frequent collaborator Vince Yi, countertenor. A lover of opera and musical theater, Matthew has worked as pianist and coach with numerous productions both locally with the University of Michigan as well as throughout the US including at the Merola Opera Program and the Wolf Trap Opera Program. Matthew has also enjoyed several summers of work at Belvoir Terrace in Lenox, MA where he is the head musical theater music director. Matthew received his MM from the University of Michigan and his BM with highest honors and highest distinction from UNC-Chapel Hill, where he studied both piano and voice.

In his spare time, Matthew enjoys reading fantasy novels, walking, watching reality shows (particularly Chopped and Shear Genius), playing Final Fantasy XIII, cooking, and Orin Swift Prisoner Red Wine.

Carolyn Mawby, Conductor

Dr. Matthew Thompson, Pianist

The singers who make up the Carolyn Mawby Chorale come from all walks of life. They are teachers, lawyers, superintendents, pharmacists, medical personnel, computer technologists, accountants, engineers, preachers, and travel agents. They are moms, dads, retirees, and most of all they are in love with the experience of singing! They come together once a week for two hours to make music for themselves and for the hundreds of people who come to hear them.