University News Last updated 25 March
Get to know who is driving RBC in this regular feature, Meet the RBC leadership team.
Vice Principal Professor Shirley Thompson has held several different roles since 2001 when she joined RBC. She is the first and only woman to be Principal, an interim role that she held for three years.
What are the core skills or areas of expertise that you bring to RBC?
I’m a musicologist with a specialism in French music of the 17th and 18th centuries: My PhD and much of my subsequent research has focused on the composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier – everyone’s heard some Charpentier, as he composed the Eurovision theme! But I’m also an experienced teacher, administrator and manager, and I enjoy the fact that I have a job that involves such variety. I’ve had numerous different roles at RBC over the years, each providing valuable learning experiences. Having been appointed Vice Principal for Music in 2018, I soon found myself, unexpectedly, Interim Principal for three years, and I remain proud of having been the first female at the helm of RBC. Whatever my role, I relish being part of a team and feel lucky to be part of such a strong one at RBC.
What have been your highlights since you started at BCU?
Having worked at RBC since 2001, there have been far too many highlights to mention, both personal and institutional ones. If I had to choose a recent example fitting both these categories, it would be the privilege of welcoming and working alongside RBC’s first Visiting Chair in Indian Music Dr Radhika Balakrishnan for a six-month period in 2023. I couldn’t have predicted how impactful Radhika’s short stay would be on students and colleagues alike. What’s more, we’ve been lucky to welcome her back on two further occasions to build on the foundations she put in place, and we have plans for more!
What have been the most challenging issues that you’ve had to discuss and take a view on so far?
One of the most challenging times across my long career at RBC was doubtless the pandemic, which coincided with my taking up the Interim Principal role. Who would have thought that courses focused on such obviously practical activities as Music and Acting could be delivered other than in person? It was a difficult time to be managing a conservatoire, but I remain so proud of what we achieved by working collaboratively and collegiately, and by being so determined to do the best we could for our students.
What are your ambitions for RBC?
My ambition for RBC is that it not only continues to thrive, but that it continues to evolve as the conservatoire of choice for students seeking a training that fully prepares them for their future careers; that it maintains its strong sense of community, nurturing everyone as individuals and encouraging them to pursue their existing strengths and to develop new skills and enthusiasms in order that they emerge as highly employable individuals.
What do you do outside of the role when you are not working?
I must admit that I regularly let work seep into six or seven days a week, especially as I try to maintain my activity as a researcher. But in continually striving for a better balance, I do try to factor in other things! Aside from the concert-going and listening to music that is naturally allied to the job itself – but obviously still very enjoyable and important to me – I enjoy visiting beautiful places, long walks, good food and – not least – spending quality time with my partner, friends and family.