External videos
"Storytelling with the Power of Music – A 21st Century Symphony", Shirley J. Thompson at TEDxJamaica

Shirley Joy ThompsonOBE (born 7 January 1958) is an English composer, conductor, and violinist ofJamaican descent. Her output as a composer encompasses symphonies, ballets, operas, concertos, and other works for ensembles, as well as music for TV, film, and theatre.^[1] HerNew Nation Rising, A 21st Century Symphony was composed in 2002^[2] and debuted in 2004. Also an academic, she is currently Professor of Music at theUniversity of Westminster.^[3] In the2019 New Year Honours she was appointed anOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Music.^[4][5]

Shirley Thompson was born inLondon, UK, of Jamaican parents.^[6] Her early musical experience included playing the violin in various youth symphony orchestras in London, and choral singing with local choirs inNewham.^[7] She graduated in music fromLiverpool University and in composition fromGoldsmiths' College after studying with ProfessorStanley Glasser.^[8]

After university, Thompson composed a body of solo and instrumental ensemble works for concert hall as well as working as a freelance composer of music for TV, films, and the theatre.^[6] She set up the Shirley Thompson Ensemble^[8] in 1994 and this became the main vehicle for her instrumental and vocal works that fused contemporary classical orchestrations with popular and world music styles.^[6]

Having trained as a television programme maker at the BBC andCarlton Television, Thompson directed the filmMemories in Mind,^[9] with an award from theArts Council,^[10] which was broadcast by the BBC in 1998.

Thompson began to focus on full orchestral composition withNew Nation Rising, A 21st Century Symphony, first performed in 2004 and recorded by theRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra^[10][11] to celebrate one thousand years of London's history.^[6] The piece sees theRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra play alongside two choirs, solo singers, a rapper and dhol drummers.^[6][10] Originally commissioned for theGolden Jubilee of Elizabeth II in 2002, the concept has been described as "a predecessor of the2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony".^[12][13]

Alongside Andy Cowton andCarlos Montoya, Thompson co-scored the award-winning^[14] balletPUSH, which premiered in 2005 and has since toured the world in major and prestigious venues, among them:Sadler's Wells, theLondon Coliseum,New York City Center and theSydney Opera House.Theater Heilbronn, Germany;Athens Arena, Greece;Opéra de Lyon,Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, France;Teatro Comunale Modena (Modena),Teatro degli Arcimboldi (Milan), andTeatro di San Carlo (Naples), Italy;Teatro Real, Madrid, Spain; andMariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, Russia.^[10][14][15]

In 2007, Thompson was commissioned to compose music for the opening of the Parliamentary exhibitionThe British Slave Trade: Abolition, Parliament and People, which marked the 250-year anniversary oflegislation for the abolition of the transatlantic trade in enslaved African people.^[6]The Woman Who Refused to Dance, performed at the launch, is arranged forsoprano,spoken-word artist and orchestra.^[9][10][16] Spirit of the Middle Passage for three solo singers, spoken-word artist andchamber orchestra^[9] was performed by ThePhilharmonia Orchestra in theQueen Elizabeth Hall as part of the Freedom & Culture International Creative Forum.^[6][17] The work featured three heroines:Nanny of the Maroons,Dido Elizabeth Belle, and The Woman Who Refused To Dance (on a ship with enslaved Africans).^[10]

In 2009, Thompson was commissioned bySouthbank Centre to compose a piece to commemorate 100 days ofBarack Obama's presidency.^[6][18]Voice of Change forchamber orchestra, solo voices, speaker and video was performed in April 2009 at thePurcell Room, Southbank Centre,^[18] with performers including principals of theBBC Concert Orchestra and soloists.^[6]

In 2010, Thompson was announced in thePowerlist of Britain's 100 Most Influential Black People 2010,^[19][20] an accolade that would be repeated in subsequent years, including being listed in the Top 10 for 2018.^[21][22][23] Most recently, Thompson has also been included in the2019,2020,2021 and 2022 editions of the list for her continued contribution to music.^[24][25][26]

On 9 February 2013, extracts from her workMandela Tales, inspired by the bookNelson Mandela's Favourite African Folk Tales (2002), were included in the programme performed by the Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Choir fromGordonstoun School at the amphitheatre at theV&A Waterfront,Cape Town.^[27]

In 2015, her operaSacred Mountain: Incidents in the Life of Queen Nanny of the Maroons was chosen to open London'sTête à Tête: The Opera Festival.^[28][29][30]

In April 2016 she was honoured with the Luminary Award^[31] (presented to people of Caribbean heritage who have made significant, outstanding contributions on an international scale or have brought to prominence issues that affect the Caribbean region, with previous recipients includingBob Marley,Harry Belafonte,Jimmy Cliff,Louise Bennett andDerek Walcott) at theUniversity of the West Indies (UWI) Benefit Gala inToronto, Canada.^[32]

In 2018, to mark the 70th anniversary of the landing of theHMTEmpire Windrush, the ship that brought one of the first large groups of post-war West Indian immigrants to the United Kingdom, Thompson was commissioned to compose a new anthem, entitled "Psalm to Windrush: for the Brave and Ingenious", which was performed at a special service of thanksgiving held atWestminster Abbey.^[33][34]

On 9 June 2021, her workSong of the Prophets: A Requiem for the Climate premiered in a virtual concert performance as part of a collaboration betweenChineke! Orchestra and UK charityChristian Aid to highlight the global impact of climate change.^[35][36]

Also in 2021, Thompson'sEmanation, a seven-minute work for chamber ensemble, commissioned by Allianz Musical Insurance and composed for BSO Resound, "the world's first professional disabled-led ensemble embedded in a major symphony orchestra", had its world premiere on 17 June atLighthouse, Poole.^[37]

In 2023, she was announced as one of 12 composers who would each create a brand new piece for theCoronation of Charles III and Camilla,^[38][39] "personally commissioned" by the King.^{[40][41][42][43][44]}

Thompson is Professor of Music at theUniversity of Westminster,^[3] where she has taught since 2001, having held the position of Reader and Head of Composition and Performance.^[10][45][46] She has also given lectures at other institutions, including theVictoria & Albert Museum^[47] and onBBC Radio 3.^[48]

Thompson was interviewed as part of theBBCmockumentary seriesCunk on Earth.^[49]

Thompson has received awards from the following organisations:

• Arts Council of England^[10]
• Southbank Centre Award (2005), forPUSH^[10]
• Newham Council, Department of Culture^[10]
• Top TV Music Theme (1990) forSouth of the Border^[50]
• Mannheim Film Festival prize (1990) forDreaming Rivers^[50]
• Prized Pieces, forMemories in Mind (1992)
• Woman of the Year in the Arts nomination (1997)^[45]
• Powerlist of Britain's 100 Most Influential Black People (2010–22)^{[23][51][52][53]}
• Chancellor's Award, University of Westminster (2016/17)^[10]
• University of the West Indies (UWI) Luminary Award (2016)^[32]
• DLitt honorary degree from UWI (2018)^[54]
• AppointedOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to Music (2019 New Year Honours)^[55][56]
• Coronation Medal, 2023

Thompson has composed for opera, orchestra, contemporary dance, TV and film. Selected works include:

• New Nation Rising, A 21st Century Symphony (2004) – symphony for orchestra, choir, solo singers, rapper and dhol drummers^[57]
• Push – contemporary ballet (co-scored)^[57]
• The Woman Who Refused to Dance – for solo singer, speaker and orchestra
• Spirit of the Middle Passage – for solo singers, speaker and orchestra^[8]
• Viola Concerto, Oslo Odyssey – for orchestral and electronic instruments and multi-media^[57]
• 100 Days of Barack Obama – for solo voice, instrumental ensemble and video projection^[57]
• The Lodger – theatrical music^[8]
• A Child of the Jago – opera^[8]
• Tapestry Song Cycle – for soprano and instrumental ensemble^[57]

Her works have been recorded and issued on CD and DVD, including:

• New Nation Rising – A 21st Century Symphony^[58]
• Newham Symphony Spectacular
• Transition
• Summer Notes^[59]
• Anansi Fantasia^[60]
• Memories in Mind

• Official website
• "Shirley J. Thompson Music & Sound Design Showreel"
• "STM : Groundbreaking composer Shirley Thompson", Voxafrica UK, 11 March 2013 (video).
• "Shirley Thompson on This Day Live",Arise News, 3 June 2014. YouTube video.
• "Prof. Shirley J. Thompson OBE Interview | Identity & Aesthetic: Five British-Caribbean Composers",Sound and Music, 20 February 2019.
• "Up Close With Shirley J. Thompson: Visionary Artist and Cultural Activist", Jamaica Global, 24 March 2019.
• Joel Campbell,"Musical partnership to chronicle historic moment",The Voice, 12 May 2020.
• Nikol Chen,"Rewriting History – Shirley Thompson OBE",The Good Leader Podcast, Laidlaw Scholars, 28 July 2020.
• "Hess, Roderick Williams, Thompson: Be Thou My Vision, Triptych for Orchestra". 6 May 2023

• 20th-century English women composers
• 20th-century English classical composers
• 21st-century British women composers
• 21st-century English classical composers
• 21st-century English women musicians
• 21st-century British violinists
• 1958 births
• Academics of the University of Westminster
• Alumni of Goldsmiths, University of London
• Alumni of the University of Liverpool
• Black British classical musicians
• 20th-century Black British musicians
• Black British women academics
• British women academics
• Black British academics
• English women classical composers
• British women conductors (music)
• Composers from London
• English opera composers
• English people of Jamaican descent
• English violinists
• English women academics
• Fellows of the Higher Education Academy
• Living people
• Officers of the Order of the British Empire
• British women classical violinists
• British women opera composers

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