Jennifer Thompson was born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1976. She began studying the violin at age two and a half with Mary Cay Neal of the Buffalo Suzuki Strings.

Jennifer received her Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Michigan, where she studied with Paul Kantor, and her Master's of Music from Rice University where she studied with Kathleen Winkler. She has participated in the Tanglewood Music Festival, the Aspen Music Festival and the New York String Seminar. She was a member of the Houston Ballet Orchestra while studying at Rice.

Outside of the Toronto Symphony, Jennifer is an avid sailor and runner.