Professor Shirley Thompson OBE, Head of Music Research at the University of Westminster, has been named as one of the UK’s most influential people of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage on The Powerlist for the thirteenth time.
The Powerlist 2023 is an annual list which honours standout men and women of people of African, African Caribbean and African American heritage across business, science, technology and the arts. Launched in 2007 to showcase role models to young people, it is now regarded as the leading authority in a number of spheres.
This year’s list includes figures such as Dame Sharon White, Chair of the John Lewis Partnership; David Olusoga, historian and broadcaster; Dame Pat McGrath DBE, makeup artist and businesswoman; Marcus Rashford, footballer and campaigner; and Edward Enninful OBE, Editor-in-Chief at British Vogue and European Editorial Director of Vogue.
Professor Thompson was named in the Arts, Fashion and Design category. She is a prominent composer and artistic director who has massively influenced and contributed to the music field, previously being named “one of the most inspirational Black British women” by the Metro newspaper. One of her most recent achievements is that she composed and conducted the Tournament Anthem entitled Beautiful Game for the UEFA Women’s EURO 2022.
In 2020, Thompson 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, and in 2019, she was awarded an OBE for her services to music at Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year Honours Awards.
Speaking about being named on the Powerlist 2023, Professor Thompson said: “I feel enormously honoured and privileged to be acknowledged by the Powerlist 2023. To be recognised in such company as the great persons I admire and named above is spectacular.
“I recently received a booklet about myself and my work, compiled by primary school children in London that have named their class, Thompson, along with accompanying classes Mozart and Einstein. I feel ecstatic that the concepts and music for the operatic and orchestral productions I compose are having such a huge impact nationally and internationally.”
Find out more about Music courses at the University of Westminster.
