As a singer and musician, in opera, recital and symphonic works, Thomas Hampson is among the most distinguished artists of our time. Raised in Spokane, Washington, he studied with Sr. Marietta Coyle, Martial Singher, Horst Günther and Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, and first came to Europe in 1980. As a member of the ensembles of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf and later the Zurich Opera he developed his vast repertoire that includes works by Mozart, Gluck, Verdi and Wagner as well as operas by Richard Strauss, Benjamin Britten and Hans Werner Henze, which he performs at the world’s major opera houses. In addition to these duties, he is particularly active as a Lieder singer and as a teacher and scholar.

Throughout his career, Thomas Hampson has been a passionate advocate of American song and poetry. He was recently named Special Advisor to the Library of Congress for Education and the Legacy of the Performing Arts.

Song and singing to Thomas Hampson are the “diary of our existence” and therefore of the greatest significance for intercultural dialogue and understanding. To provide a forum for exchange and to further the art of song, he established the Hampsong Foundation. This Web site, www.hampsong.org is home to current initiatives. Archival material of Thomas Hampson’s activities as a musician and scholar can be found on his personal Web site, www.thomashampson.com - including past Song Projects, essays, concert programs, biographical information, photos and videos, as well as his performance calendar and discography.