Rebecca Tompkins is a private viola instructor in the Katy, Texas area and currently maintains a studio of 22-25 viola students. Openings in her studio are in high demand as she is well respected and trusted by orchestra directors in her area through many years. Over the last forty years, she has taught students from elementary school through college age at many different levels. Several of her former students are orchestra directors in cities across the state of Texas.
Each year, her students perform in their region orchestras, and she has taught many students that have performed in the Texas All State Orchestras.
Rebecca became interested in music composition and arranging at age eleven, composing for piano, string orchestra, and various ensembles. She continued through her teaching years predominantly arranging music for her students to play, organizing performances of these arrangements for parties and community service performances. Within the last ten years, Rebecca has been arranging hymns for solo viola, and frequently plays those at church services in the Houston area. In the spring of 2022 she began writing and arranging music for string orchestra. It is a delight for her to create music for groups at various levels and to spark interest and joy in young people, as well as to help add to their musical development in style and technique.
Rebecca graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Viola Performance from the University of Houston, under the instruction of Lawrence Wheeler and Kenneth Goldsmith. She has performed in professional groups such as the Houston Ballet Orchestra, Houston Grand Opera, Theatre Under the Stars, Texas Opera Theatre, and National Repertory Orchestra based in Colorado. As a college student, she was named the central region winner of the Wendell Irish Viola Award.
In addition to music, Rebecca is a member of US Master’s Swimming and enjoys running,
cycling, and pilates as well.
