Past ACCFs

Director, The Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts

Professor Emeritus Kevin Thompson has led two of the United Kingdom's most progressive performing arts institutions, becoming Principal of Birmingham Conservatoire in 1988, and, in 1993, Principal of Dartington College, designated by Arts Council England in 2003 as a new national centre of excellence for its 'Dartington Plus' - music and creative arts - activity.

In Autumn 2004 he assumed Directorship of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts.

In his initial Birmingham years he played with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, and later, worked extensively with Sir Simon Rattle, and Sir Peter Wright, with whom he launched Conduct for Dance, an international conducting competition with the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.

During his Dartington period he was a member of the Prime Minister's High Level Strategy Group on International Students, and currently serves as an adviser to The British Chevening Programme, and Education and Manpower Bureau's Hall of Fame.

He was steer chair of the ELIA International Leadership Symposium at the Getty Center in Los Angeles in 2003.

Now, here in Hong Kong, in addition to his duties as Director of the Academy, he is Chairman of EXCEL Company Ltd, the Academy's burgeoning extension and continuing education programme, and serves on the Consultative Committee on West Kowloon Cultural District.