Jesse is originally from Williamsport, PA and began playing the violin when he was nine. He has spent his summers attending camps and festivals including New England Music Camp, Chamber Music institute of Virginia, Philadelphia International Music Festival, the Sunflower Music Festival and Buzzards Bay Musicfest. Thompson studied privately with Kenneth Sarch, who was concertmaster of the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra. While at Duquesne, he studied primarily with Charles Stegeman as well as Rachel Stegeman. During his studies Jesse has played with the Wheeling Symphony, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Pittsburgh Opera Orchestra and Grand Rapids Symphony. He recently graduated this past spring and has earned his Bachelors, Artist Diploma and Masters in Violin Performance all from Duquesne University. Jesse recently won a fellowship position with the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida and will be joining them in September.