Professor Shirley Thompson, Composer, Artistic Director and Professor of Music at the University of Westminster, has been named as one of the most influential Black people in the UK on the Powerlist for the twelfth time.
The Powerlist is a list of the top 100 most influential people of African, African Caribbean, and African American heritage who live in the UK. Thompson was named in the Arts, Fashion and Design category.
She has massively influenced and contributed to the music field, previously being named “one of the most inspirational Black British women” by the Metro newspaper. Other names on the Powerlist include Lord Simon Woolley, Jacky Wright, Marcus Rashford, Anne Mensah, Daniel Kaluuya and Michaela Coel.
The Powerlist celebrates Thompson for becoming the first woman in Europe in 40 years to compose and conduct a symphony. New Nation Rising: A 21st Century Symphony, performed and recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, is an epic musical story celebrating London’s thousand-year history. It features nearly 200 performers, the RPO, two choirs, solo singers, a rapper and dhol drummers.
Last year Shirley was awarded a Professorship of Music at Westminster, becoming the first person of African heritage to be made a University Professor of Music in Europe. In October 2020 she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Black British Theatre Awards.
Those that are nominated for the Powerlist are put through a meticulous test looking at their influence and ability to positively alter events and change lives over a period of time. Each nominee is marked out of 10 for two indices: how influential they are in their day job and how far their influence reaches outside of their work.
Talking about being named on the Powerlist, Professor Thompson said: “I am hugely inspired and humbled to be included in the 2022 Top 100 Powerlist with icons such as Marcus Rashford, Bernardine Evaristo and Lewis Hamilton. I am in awe of the humanitarian acts by the likes of Marcus Rashford and his colleagues as well as excited by Lewis Hamilton using his influence to push and stand up for equality in his field with ripple effects to all fields of endeavour. In addition, I of course admire the consistence creativity and excellence that they bring to their work. Bernardine Evaristo demonstrates devotion, brilliance and persistence in the art and craft of writing the best literature. Altruistically, she has always helped, when possible, other writers and artists.
“The Powerlist offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect on how our colleagues are making a difference to communities in the UK and worldwide. Professor Kevin Fenton, number two on the list, has led the public health UK strategy over the last two years of Covid 19, and I feel very proud that my influence is considered on a comparable scale."
The full list is available on the Powerlist website.
