Internationally acknowledged as one of the world's leading horn players, Michael Thompson is also regarded as a charismatic and inspirational teacher. As a conductor, he is known as a fine orchestral trainer and has received praise for his work with young musicians.

After studies at the Royal Academy of Music, he was appointed principal horn with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the age of eighteen. Within three years he was offered the principal horn positions of both the Philharmonia and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras. He joined the Philharmonia and remained in that post for ten years before leaving to concentrate on his solo and chamber music career.

His work as director/soloist or conductor has seen him perform in Japan, Australia, the U.S.A. Europe and Scandinavia.

His concert schedule takes him worldwide and his discography includes the major solo horn repertoire, period instrument recordings and a number of critically acclaimed CDs with his wind quintet and horn quartet.

In addition to his classical work, he is very active as a studio musician, playing on sound tracks too numerous to list but including The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and the Bond films. His work for Sir Paul McCartney resulted in the composition of Stately Horn which the Michael Thompson horn quartet premiered in the Royal Albert Hall and Carnegie Hall.

Michael Thompson is a Fellow and Aubrey Brain professor of horn at the Royal Academy of Music and gives regular master-classes and lectures throughout the world. He plays on an instrument made by Paxman of London.