GWENDOLINE LOUISE THOMPSON-ROBINOW

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GWENDOLINE LOUISE THOMPSON-ROBINOW

Gwendoline Louise Thompson-Robinow, BMusc, CM, nee Thompson: March 30, 1947, St. Boniface MB, December 5, 2025, Victoria BC.

Gwen had a remarkable career as a violinist. She began lessons at four years old and by 14 she was studying with Winnipeg's foremost teacher, Sophie Eckhart-Grammate. Each summer she attended the National Youth Orchestra and was concertmaster for her last season. By sixteen she was accepted at Indiana University by Josef Gingold, one of North America's foremost pedagogues. While at Indiana University, she earned entry to the Phi Beta Kapa Sorority in recognition of her high academic and musical standing. After graduation she went on to study with Jascha Heifitz at UCLA and Mr. Galamian at the Julliard School of Music. At age 22, she was invited to teach violin at Western University in London, Ontario and to lead the London Symphony Orchestra. At the time she was the youngest person, male or female, to hold a professorship in the music faculty at Western.

Over the years she taught hundreds of students. Several of whom are now concertmasters themselves, and many teach the next generation of musicians or play in orchestras world-wide.

Gwen also served on the Arts Advisory Council of the Canada Council for five years. She has taught as professor of violin at Western University, University of British Columbia, University of Manitoba, and at several music camps in Canada, including Domaine Forget, and in Europe.

In Vancouver, Gwen founded the salon group, Viveza, which went on to release six CDs and toured all over Canada.

Gwen was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2004, in acknowledgement of her outstanding teaching and her overall remarkable contribution to music in Canada.

In 1975, she married Dr. Oliver Robinow, and moved to Vancouver. There, she took the position of Head of Strings at the Vancouver Academy of Music, and also as Visiting Professor at the University of British Columbia.

Gwen and Oliver had two children, Richard Alexander Robinow, now 46 years old, and Elizabeth Louise Robinow, now 42 years old.

After she retired in 2006, the couple moved to Victoria, British Columbia. There, Gwen helped found the Township Community Arts Council, in Esquimalt, and initiated a series of monthly chamber concerts, which continues to this day. The TCAC provides support for gifted young music students.

After her retirement, Gwen distilled her many of years teaching experience into a book, "The Embodied Violinist", which was very well-received, with copies being read all over the world.

Gwen will be greatly missed by the musical community both locally and across the world.

Gwen is survived by her husband, Oliver, her two children, Richard and Elziabeth, her brother Lorimer Thompson and his wife, Deborah Thompson, and their two sons, Scott Thompson and David Thompson.

A memorial celebration will be held in the new year.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Dec 09, 2025