Professor SHIRLEY J THOMPSON is President of The F-List for Music, effective from today (21 November). She will hold the role for one year.
The F-List is a community interest organisation, supporting women and gender-expansive people in the UK overcome structural barriers in music through facilitating training, providing career development opportunities and conducting research into gender inequality.
Thompson is a classical music composer for orchestra, operatic stage and contemporary ballet, as well as an artistic director and cultural activist.
As the third president of the not-for-profit organisation, Thompson succeeds inaugural President ANOUSHKA SHANKHAR and rock guitarist BRIX SMITH, who held the position from 2021-22.
DIANA ROBERTS, F-List Director and Head of the Creative Careers Centre at the Royal College of Music, called Thompson “an inspiring industry role-model, a bold, creative change-agent” and “an original voice”.
F-List Director, Fellow of the European Music Council and Council Member of the Independent Society of Musicians, MIMI HARMER, said they are thrilled to have such an esteemed composer and academic as president.
“Shirley has paved the way for women across many aspects of the music industry: female composers, interdisciplinary collaborators, and female academics,” Harmer added.