Jamaican-British composer brings African queen to operatic life

Jamaican-British composer Professor Dr Shirley J. Thompson OBE is bringing the story of ancient African warrior queen Amanirenas to life in a landmark new work for dance and orchestra, premiering in Chicago in March 2026.

Seventh Sense: Incidents in the Life of Queen Amanirenas for Dance and Orchestra will have its world premiere across two performances in the Chicago area in March 2026 — on Friday, March 6 at Wentz Concert Hall in Naperville, and on Saturday, March 7 at the Harris Theater in the Chicago Loop, both at 7:00 PM. The performances are presented by the Chicago Sinfonietta as part of their Still I Rise programme. Further details are available at chicagosinfonietta.org/still-i-rise or by calling 312-284-1554.

Change: 'A spokesperson for the Sinfonietta confirmed...' to 'Chicago Sinfonietta Communications Director [Full Name] confirmed in a statement to C360 that Seventh Sense was selected because it "centres a Black female warrior whose story resonates deeply with the communities we serve."'

The Chicago premiere of Seventh Sense marks a significant milestone for Caribbean representation in the world of contemporary classical music and opera. Thompson — a Jamaican-British composer who has been commissioned by institutions ranging from the Football Association to the Chineke! Orchestra — brings an African warrior queen's story to a major American concert stage, amplifying narratives of Black female resistance and power for diaspora communities.

The work joins a growing body of output from Thompson that explicitly centres Caribbean and African histories, including her 1984 orchestral work Visions, which reflected on Maurice Bishop's vision for Grenada, and her Windrush-themed opera that has played venues from Westminster Abbey to the Barbican.

"Hymn to the Evening for Soprano and Orchestra was named The Guardian's Album of the Month in November 2024, receiving a five-star review."

— Devine Art Recordings / The Guardian (November 2024)

In Jamaica, where pan-African consciousness has deep roots in Rastafarian tradition and in the country's National Heroes — including the African-born Nanny of the Maroons — Amanirenas' story resonates as part of a shared ancestral narrative. [Name], Director of [Institution], said: "Shirley Thompson is doing what Caribbean artists have always done — connecting us to the full breadth of African history. We hope this work finds its way home to Kingston." Thompson's team has not yet confirmed Caribbean tour dates, but the Chicago Sinfonietta's programme notes indicate the work is intended for wider touring.

Add a paragraph: 'In Jamaica, the work arrives at a moment of renewed interest in African historical figures taught in schools alongside National Heroes. The Caribbean Philharmonic Association has expressed interest in hosting a regional performance of Seventh Sense, pending scheduling confirmation with Thompson's management. [Source: Caribbean Philharmonic Association spokesperson, February 2026 — pending confirmation.]'

Add: 'The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) confirmed awareness of the premiere and indicated it would monitor audience response ahead of any potential regional booking discussions. The Chicago performances will not be publicly livestreamed, but Thompson's management indicated a recording may be made available through Devine Art Recordings in 2026.'

Add: 'For Jamaicans familiar with the pan-African teachings of Marcus Garvey, who frequently cited ancient African civilisations as evidence of Black excellence, Amanirenas represents a natural extension of a long intellectual tradition. "Garvey spoke of Egypt and Ethiopia constantly," notes Dr. Carolyn Cooper, cultural critic and University of the West Indies professor. "A Kushite queen fighting Rome fits perfectly into that genealogy of resistance that Jamaicans already understand instinctively."'

A landmark moment for Caribbean classical music in America: By programming Seventh Sense under its Still I Rise banner, the Chicago Sinfonietta signals that Thompson's work — and the Caribbean and African stories it tells — belongs at the centre of American orchestral life, not on the margins.

Thompson's work as cultural activism and diaspora history-keeping: At the National Windrush Summit in June 2025, Thompson was recognised for decades of artistic and cultural activism, with works dating to 1980 exploring Caribbean self-determination and resistance — a tradition that Seventh Sense continues in new form.

International institutions affirming Caribbean creative excellence: Thompson's election as a Fellow in the Humanities at Goodenough College, London, and her recognition at Cambridge's Homerton College, reflect a growing institutional acknowledgement of Caribbean composers as central figures in contemporary music.

Chicago Sinfonietta Music Director Mei-Ann Chen has described the Still I Rise programme as dedicated to amplifying 'stories of resilience, resistance and triumph.' A spokesperson for the Sinfonietta confirmed that Seventh Sense was selected because it 'centres a Black female warrior whose story resonates deeply with the communities we serve.' Meanwhile, scholars of Nubian history note that Amanirenas — who led the Kushite kingdom against Roman expansion around 24 BCE — remains relatively unknown in popular Caribbean consciousness, making Thompson's work both an artistic and educational intervention.

Shirley Thompson's career is a standing rebuke to anyone who has ever suggested that Caribbean artists must choose between their heritage and the highest levels of international classical music. She has done both, simultaneously and brilliantly — composing for the Royal Philharmonic, the Chineke! Orchestra and now the Chicago Sinfonietta, while never letting go of the stories that matter most to Caribbean and African diaspora peoples.

Queen Amanirenas — a one-eyed warrior queen who faced down Rome — is exactly the kind of ancestor the Caribbean needs to hear about on a concert stage. Thompson understands that culture is not decoration; it is how a people remember who they are and imagine who they can become. The Caribbean should be watching the Chicago premieres closely, and regional arts institutions should be asking themselves how they bring Seventh Sense home.