YolanDa Brown | |
|---|---|
 YolanDa Brown performing at theBarbican Centre in 2016 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | YolanDa Faye Brown |
| Born | (1982-10-04)4 October 1982 (age 42) Barking, London, England |
| Genres | |
| Instrument(s) | Tenor, soprano and altosaxophone,EWI |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Website | yolandabrown |
YolanDa Faye BrownOBE DL (born 4 October 1982)[1] is a Britishsaxophonist, composer, and broadcaster. Her musical sound is a fusion ofreggae,jazz andsoul. In 2022 she was appointed chair of theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI).[2]
Brown was born toJamaican parents (her mother was aheadteacher, while her father was an advertising executive) inBarking, Essex, England. She grew up inGants Hill in theLondon Borough of Redbridge.[3][4] Her childhood dream was to become a racing car driver.[5][6]
Brown was a student atBancroft's School andBeal High School, where she became Head Girl.[7] Brown went on to study at theUniversity of Kent, Kent Business School inCanterbury.[5] She also spent a year as anErasmus student at theUniversity of Oviedo inAsturias,Spain.[8]
Hermaster's dissertation was on "Combining SSM (Soft systems methodology) and DESM (Discrete event simulation)". She graduated with a first-class degree. Brown gained a further master's degree in Methods of Social Research, followed by four years of Ph.D. study in management science, before taking a hiatus from her thesis on "Multi Methodology" to pursue her music career.[5]
In 2008, Brown was aMOBO "Best Jazz" andUMA winner.[9] In 2009, Brown became the first musician to not only be nominated in the "Best Jazz" category of the MOBOs in consecutive years, but also the first to win it two years running.[5]
In February 2012, Brown released her first albumApril Showers May Flowers. That year, she also kicked off a UK and overseas tour in support of the album with two concerts at the HMVHammersmith Apollo accompanied by her full band and theRoyal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Brown's second album entitledLove Politics War was released on 16 June 2017. The album features original compositions blending reggae, jazz and soul, labelled somewhat tongue-in-cheek as "Posh Reggae".[10]
Brown's 20 episode BBC series,YolanDa's Band Jam[11] began transmission on CBeebies on 26 January 2019. The show consists of Brown inviting star guests to play along with a live audience of children aged five to seven. Brown is a regular guest presenter onBBC Radio 4's programmeLoose Ends withClive Anderson[12] She also presented a documentary onWilliams Syndrome for the station.[13]
The Department of Education andDCMS in 2021, invited Brown to sit on the advisory panel for the National Plan for Music Education (NPME),[14] In June 2022, she was appointed by the Secretary of StateNadine Dorries, as National Council Member[15] atArts Council England In July 2022, Brown was appointed chair of theBritish Phonographic Industry (BPI).[16]
October 2022 saw Brown receive a BAFTA nomination in the Best Presenter category.[17] In 2023, Brown made plans to open an Islington music venue and restaurant called Soul Mama, after raising funds on Kickstarter.[18]
In April 2024, Brown was named as Chancellor of theUniversity of Kent, a position previously held byGavin Esler.[19]
In January 2018, Brown was appointed Chair of Youth Music, a national charity investing in music-making projects for children and young people experiencing challenging circumstances.[20][21] Since 2017, Brown has been a BBC Music Ambassador. She is also a celebrity ambassador forThe Prince's Trust,Children & the Arts,Plan UK,Place2Be,World Child Cancer andLondon Music Fund.
The YolanDa Brown Music Award in conjunction with theUniversity of East London (UEL) provides financial support specifically to final-year students studying BSc (Hons) Music Technology or BA (Hons) Music Production and Culture at UEL. The award is available to up to four UEL students and provides them with funds toward studio time or music equipment. This was the first project from the YolanDa Brown Foundation.
In May 2018, Brown launched the London Saxophone Festival, an annual celebration of the saxophone through concerts, film, workshops and more. Featured artists included Bob Reynolds from Snarky Puppy and Casey Benjamin from the Robert Glasper Experiment. The second edition took place in June 2019 and the 2020 edition was postponed as a result ofCOVID-19.
In 2024, Brown became a member of theBlue Plaques panel.[22]
Brown was appointedOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the2023 New Year Honours for services to music, music education and broadcasting.[23]
Brown lives inChigwell with her husband, amusic promoter andrestaurateur, and their two daughters. She was one of eleven individuals appointed aDeputy lieutenant of Greater London on 11 October 2022.[24]
Brown was brought up with Christian values, and became a born again Christian in her teenage years after attending a friend's youth convention.[25]
| Year | Category | Award | Result | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | WIEA Awards | Best Musician 2008 | Won | |
| Urban Music Awards | Best Jazz Act 2008 | Nominated | [26] | |
| MOBO Awards | Best Jazz Act 2008 | Won | [27] | |
| 2009 | Marlborough Jazz Festival | Best Performer 2009 | Won | |
| Urban Music Awards | Best Jazz Act 2009 | Won | ||
| Urban Music Awards | Most Inspiring Act 2009 | Nominated | ||
| MOBO Awards | Best Jazz Act 2009 | Won | [28] | |
| 2018 | Boisdale Music Award | Best Instrumentalist 2018 | Won | |
| Black Magic Awards | Inspiration Award 2018 | Won | ||
| 2022 | Music Week Women in Music Award | Music Champion 2022 | Won | |
| BAFTA Award | Best Presenter 2022 | Nominated |
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| Academic offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Chancellor of the University of Kent 2014 – 2024 | Incumbent |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |