Kevin (Kit) Thompson

Kevin (Kit) Thompson is recognised internationally as one of the most pre-eminent performing conservatoire and arts academy directors.

He became the UK’s youngest university President when he was appointed to the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire in 1988 and was President of Dartington College of Arts from 1993 to 2004.

In 2004, he took on the presidency of the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Thompson currently serves as Inaugural Chairman for the Council of Masters at Universidade de Macau. Following the award of his Chevalier Légion d’honneur in 2017, he was elected to the Presidency of Macao European Chambers of Commerce.

Thompson was awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria. He holds Honorary Doctorates from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and the University of Plymouth.

In 2023, Kevin (Kit) Thompson was awarded an honorary Doctorate DMus by Goldsmiths.