Shirley Thompson (composer)

Shirley Thompson is an English composer of Jamaican descent.

Contents 1 Biography 2 Honors and awards 3 Works 4 References

Biography

Shirley Thompson was born in London, England, of Jamaican parents.^[1] She graduated in music from Liverpool University and in composition from Goldsmith's College after studying with Professor Stanley Glasser.^[2] After university she 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.^[3]

She set up the Shirley Thompson Ensemble^[4] 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.^[5] Thompson began to focus on full orchestral composition and in 2004 became the first woman in Europe in over forty years to have composed and conducted a symphony.^[6][7][8] New Nation Rising, A 21st Century Symphony was recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra^[9][10] to celebrate one-thousand years of London's history.^[11] The piece sees the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra play alongside two choirs, solo singers, a rapper and dhol drummers.^[12][13]

Thompson co-scored the award winning ^[14] ballet PUSH, alongside Andy Cowton and Carlos Montoya which premiered in 2005, and has since toured the world in major venues such as Sadler's Wells, the London Coliseum, City Centre, New York and the Sydney Opera House.^[15][16]

In 2007 Thompson was commissioned to compose music for the opening of the Parliamentary exhibition: The British Slave Trade: Abolition, Parliament and People which marked the 250 year anniversary of the abolition of the transatlantic trade in enslaved African people.^[17] The Woman Who Refused to Dance, performed at the launch, is arranged for soprano, spoken word artist and orchestra.^[18][19][20] Spirit of the Middle Passage for three solo singers, spoken word artist & chamber orchestra ^[21] was performed by The Philharmonia Orchestra in the Queen Elizabeth Hall as part of the Freedom & Culture International Creative Forum.^[22][23] The work featured three heroines including Nanny of the Maroons.^[24]

In 2009 Thompson was commissioned by Southbank Centre to compose a piece to commemorate 100 days of Barack Obama’s presidency.^[25][26] Voice of Change for chamber orchestra, solo voices, speaker and video was performed in April 2009 at the Purcell Room, Southbank Centre,^[27] with performers including principals of the BBC Concert Orchestra and soloists.^[28]

Thompson was the first woman to compose and musically direct music for a major drama series at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).^[29] Having trained as a television programme maker at the BBC and Carlton Television she directed the film, Memories in Mind^[30] with an award from the Arts Council^[31] which was broadcast by the BBC in 1998.

In 2010 Shirley Thompson was announced in the Evening Standard’s Power List of Britain’s 100 Most Influential Black People 2010.^[32][33] Shirley Thompson is Reader in Music at the University of Westminster.^[34]

Honors and awards

Thompson has received awards from the following organizations:

• Arts Council of England^[35]
• Southbank Centre^[36]
• Newham Council, Department of Culture^[37]
• University of Westminster ^[38]
• Top TV Music Theme (1990) for South of the Border ^[39]
• Mannheim Film festival prize (1990) for Dreaming Rivers ^[40]
• Prized Pieces, for Memories in Mind (1992)
• Woman of the Year in the Arts nomination (1997) ^[41]

Works

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^[42]
• Push - contemporary ballet (co-scored)^[43]
• The Woman Who Refused to Dance - for solo singer, speaker and orchestra
• Spirit of the Middle Passage - for solo singers, speaker and orchestra ^[44]
• Viola Concerto, Oslo Odyssey - for orchestral and electronic instruments and multi-media ^[45]
• 100 days of Barack Obama - for solo voice, instrumental ensemble and video projection ^[46]
• The Lodger - theatrical music ^[47]
• A Child of the Jago - opera ^[48]
• Tapestry Song Cycle - for Soprano and Instrumental Ensemble ^[49]

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

• New Nation Rising - A 21st Century Symphony ^[50]
• Newham Symphony Spectacular
• Transition
• Summer Notes ^[51]
• Anansi Fantasia^[52]
• Memories in Mind

References

Persondata
Name	Thompson, Shirley
Alternative names
Short description	Composer
Date of birth
Place of birth	London, England
Date of death
Place of death