After university, Thompson composed a body of solo and instrumental ensemble works for concert hall as well as working as a freelance composer of music for TV, films, and the theatre. to celebrate one thousand years of London's history. Alongside Andy Cowton and
Carlos Montoya, Thompson co-scored the award-winning ballet
PUSH, which premiered in 2005 and has since toured the world in major and prestigious venues, among them:
Sadler's Wells, the
London Coliseum,
New York City Center and the
Sydney Opera House.
Theater Heilbronn, Germany;
Athens Arena, Greece;
Opéra de Lyon,
Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, France;
Teatro Comunale Modena (Modena),
Teatro degli Arcimboldi (Milan), and
Teatro di San Carlo (Naples), Italy;
Teatro Real, Madrid, Spain; and
Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg, Russia. In 2007, Thompson was commissioned to compose music for the opening of the Parliamentary exhibition
The British Slave Trade: Abolition, Parliament and People, which marked the 250-year anniversary of
legislation for the abolition of the transatlantic trade in enslaved African people.
Spirit of the Middle Passage for three solo singers, spoken-word artist and
chamber orchestra The work featured three heroines:
Nanny of the Maroons,
Dido Elizabeth Belle, and The Woman Who Refused To Dance (on a ship with enslaved Africans).
Voice of Change for
chamber orchestra, solo voices, speaker and video was performed in April 2009 at the
Purcell Room, Southbank Centre, an accolade that would be repeated in subsequent years, including being listed in the Top 10 for 2018. On 9 February 2013, extracts from her work
Mandela Tales, inspired by the book ''
Nelson Mandela's Favourite African Folk Tales'' (2002), were included in the programme performed by the Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Choir from
Gordonstoun School at the amphitheatre at the
V&A Waterfront,
Cape Town. In 2015, her opera
Sacred Mountain: Incidents in the Life of Queen Nanny of the Maroons was chosen to open London's
Tête à Tête: The Opera Festival. In April 2016, she was honoured with the Luminary Award (presented to people of Caribbean heritage who have made significant, outstanding contributions on an international scale or have brought to prominence issues that affect the Caribbean region, with previous recipients including
Bob Marley,
Harry Belafonte,
Jimmy Cliff,
Louise Bennett and
Derek Walcott) at the
University of the West Indies (UWI) Benefit Gala in
Toronto, Canada. In 2018, to mark the 70th anniversary of the landing of the
HMT Empire Windrush, the ship that brought one of the first large groups of post-war West Indian immigrants to the United Kingdom, Thompson was commissioned to compose a new anthem, entitled "Psalm to Windrush: for the Brave and Ingenious", which was performed at a special service of thanksgiving held at
Westminster Abbey. On 9 June 2021, her work
Song of the Prophets: A Requiem for the Climate premiered in a virtual concert performance as part of a collaboration between
Chineke! Orchestra and UK charity
Christian Aid to highlight the global impact of climate change. Also in 2021, Thompson's
Emanation, a seven-minute work for chamber ensemble, commissioned by Allianz Musical Insurance and composed for BSO Resound, "the world's first professional disabled-led ensemble embedded in a major symphony orchestra", had its world premiere on 17 June at
Lighthouse, Poole. Thompson composed the anthem for the
UEFA Women's Euro 2022, entitled "Beautiful Game", which was recorded by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra with community singers. In 2023, she was announced as one of 12 composers who would each create a brand new piece for the
Coronation of Charles III and Camilla, "personally commissioned" by the King.
Academic work Thompson is Professor of Music at the
University of Westminster, She has also given lectures at other institutions, including the
Victoria & Albert Museum and on
BBC Radio 3.
Filmography Thompson was interviewed as part of the
BBC mockumentary series
Cunk on Earth. == Honours and awards ==