Chipola Artist Series Season Opens Aug. 26 With Emily Ann Thompson

The 2025-2026 Artist Series season opens August 26, 2025 with EMILY ANN THOMPSON.  From fast, high-energy jigs and reels to captivating airs, ballads, upbeat songs and sea shanties, Emily Ann Thompson and her husband Kelly Thompson take the audience on a musical and educational journey through the Celtic lands. Emily performs traditional Irish, Scottish, and Canadian fiddle tunes, sings in English and Irish Gaelic, and clogs while fiddling. Kelly joins her on guitar, percussion, and vocals. Emily’s brilliant fiddling with foot percussion, and her sweet, lilting voice combined with Kelly’s driving rhythmic guitar and rich vocals create a diverse and highly entertaining combination.

Emily Ann Thompson began playing classical violin at age 11 and by the age of 17 she was performing professionally. She received her B.A. in Music from Butler University in 1999. Immediately upon graduating she immersed herself in studying and performing rock, Celtic and American fiddling, jazz and Parisian swing. She also continued to perform as a classical violinist in numerous symphonies and ensembles throughout Indiana, Illinois, and Florida, recently including the Southwest Florida Symphony and the Gulf Coast Symphony. Emily has been a featured Celtic fiddle and classical soloist with several orchestras and ensembles throughout the United States. In addition, she has been a solo recording artist in classical, Celtic, and rock genres. Emily Ann and her husband Kelly first began performing together in a Christian folk/rock band where they met in 1998. Kelly later joined Emily in performing Celtic music in 2009. Since then, they have mostly performed as a duo. To follow both Emily Ann and Kelly, visit emilyannthompson.com

Season tickets go on sale Aug. 20.  Season tickets—$50—are a bargain price when compared to sister institutions where prices are double or triple this amount.  Season ticket holders receive reserved seating renewal privileges for the next season. Patrons who are renewing their season tickets may contact the Box Office beginning Aug. 20.

Single event ticket prices this year are $20 for adults, $10 for children under 18, and $5 for Chipola students and employees.  Single event tickets go on sale Aug. 20. 

For more information, call the Center for the Arts Box Office at 850-718-2420 or visit www.chipola.edu/boxoffice.  The Box Office will open for the Fall Semester on Wednesday, Aug. 20.  Box Office hours are Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. The Box Office is closed on Fridays and all college holidays.