Who’s Who: Nicole Thompson of Wilmington Symphony

Who’s Who of Wilmington Today: Meet Nicole Thompson

To escape the cold weather, Nicole Thompson and her husband left Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2011 with their sights set on the Cape Fear region. Along with a beautiful landscape, Wilmington also sparked their interest because of the growing film scene.

“I love the weather, the beach and the food!” Thompson says when asked her three favorite things about living in the area.

Marketing and operations director for Wilmington Symphony Orchestra, Thompson describes herself as hard-working and outgoing, and says some people have described her as fearless.

What is your average workday like? 
NT: It’s full of variety with something new to tackle every day. I work on everything from graphic design and marketing plans to concert production and event planning.

What do you enjoy most about your job? 
NT: I love working the concerts, being both backstage with the musicians and in the front of house with the patrons. It’s fun to help meet the needs of both the performers and the patrons.

What is the most difficult part of your job? 
NT: I’d say balancing priorities can be difficult sometimes.

What has working at Wilmington Symphony done for you? 
NT: I have been very fortunate to work with the Wilmington Symphony. It’s a position that allows me to do what I love and utilize my skills and expertise in arts administration.

Do you have any future goals for the company, and what will you do to achieve them?
NT: I have many goals for the organization. For example, I’d love to connect more partnerships with other local nonprofits as well as the City of Wilmington and the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce.

I will continue to introduce the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra to local residents, including newcomers and business owners. I would also love to connect more businesses with the Wilmington Symphony and introduce them to the benefits of supporting the local arts community.

Fun Facts
Favorite movies: Shakespeare in Love, Ever After, In Love and War, Open Range
Embarrassing moment: I try hard not to embarrass myself, but I’m sure I’m not always successful. 
Favorite song out right now: “You Say” by Lauren Daigle
Pet peeves: My biggest pet peeve is when people form strong opinions about something without being fully informed or educated about the subject matter.
Favorite quote or mantra: “All I insist on, and nothing else, is that you should show the world that you are not afraid. Be silent, if you choose; but when it is necessary speak – and speak in such a way that people will remember it.”  W.A. Mozart

Provide a few things about your business that you would want our readers to know:

The Wilmington Symphony Orchestra presents seven concerts per year (five Masterworks and two Symphony Pops) at the Wilson Center. In addition, youth education remains an organizational priority; two youth ensembles present four family matinees per year at Kenan Auditorium.

WSO also hosts an annual Young Artists Concerto Competition, which allows the winners to perform accompanied by the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. 

The mission of the Wilmington Symphony is to provide symphonic music at the highest possible degree of excellence, to provide performance opportunities for area musicians, and to provide cultural benefits to the Greater Cape Fear regional communities.

If you’ve never experienced an evening with the Wilmington Symphony, you owe it to yourself to try it at least once. There’s nothing quite as inspirational as a live orchestra concert!

Wilmington Symphony Orchestra: wilmingtonsymphony.org