An exhibition that follows participants in homeless charity Streetwise Opera workshops in London on an inspirational journey, as they explore and celebrate the lives of three extraordinary artists who transformed adversity into creative genius.

Curated by Mia Lewis, a British-Grenadian socially engaged arts producer, this exhibition celebrates the lives of composers Ignatius Sancho, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor and Shirley Thompson.

Born on a slave ship in the Atlantic, Ignatius Sancho (1729 - 1780) would go on to become a renowned abolitionist, writer and composer, gaining the respect of London intellectuals, and the first Black man to vote in Britain.

Born in London to a mixed ethnicity family, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875–1912) was a composer and conductor. He engaged with African musical traditions and achieved international recognition, influencing both British and American music scenes.

London-born Dr Shirley J. Thompson OBE (1958) is a renowned composer, artistic director, conductor, academic, violinist and film maker. Her work, merging classical traditions with diverse cultural elements, has been acclaimed globally.