Thursa has raised Drake Music Scotland’s profile as the key national music and disability organisation in Scotland, with Regular Funding from Creative Scotland’. Now a recognised leader in its field with a wide network of connections around the world the organisations has a number of high profile partnerships with key Scottish figures such as Sir James MacMillan and national organisations such as the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and National Youth Orchestras of Scotland, making regular presentations at international events such as the International Society for Music Education conference.

Thursa has an MA (Hons) from the University of Edinburgh’s Faculty of Arts. Throughout her life she has been a passionate advocate of social inclusion, arts education and the value of active participation in the arts for all. She was the first Co-ordinator of Artlink Edinburgh & the Lothians, set up to enable disabled people to access the arts, then built a portfolio career as a musician, arts practitioner and arts development consultant, before joining Drake Music Scotland as Chief Executive in 2002. She plays the cello and enjoys playing chamber music as well as the theatre, visual arts and literature. In 2016 she was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List for services to music education and disabled people.