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YolanDa Brown

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For the American singer, see Yolanda Brown (singer).

YolanDa Brown
OBE DL
A woman playing the saxophone with eyes closed. Lit from the side with yellow and lit overall in white, she is wearing a black shirt with floral patterns in white and green embroidery and glittery black trousers with Natural hair in a wide, short mohawk, shaved on either side. Behind her, some instruments are out of focus.
YolanDa Brown performing at the Barbican Centre in 2016
Background information
Birth nameYolanDa Faye Brown
Born (1982-10-04) 4 October 1982 (age 42)
Barking, London, England
Genres
Instrument(s)Tenor, soprano and alto saxophone, EWI
Years active2007–present
Websiteyolandabrown.co.uk

YolanDa Faye Brown OBE DL (born 4 October 1982)[1] is a British saxophonist, composer, and broadcaster. Her musical sound is a fusion of reggae, jazz and soul. In 2022 she was appointed chair of the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).[2]

Early life and education

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Brown was born to Jamaican parents (her mother was a headteacher, while her father was an advertising executive) in Barking, Essex, England. She grew up in Gants Hill in the London Borough of Redbridge.[3][4] Her childhood dream was to become a racing car driver.[5][6]

Brown was a student at Bancroft's School and Beal High School, where she became Head Girl.[7] Brown went on to study at the University of Kent, Kent Business School in Canterbury.[5] She also spent a year as an Erasmus student at the University of Oviedo in Asturias, Spain.[8]

Her master'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]

Career

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In 2008, Brown was a MOBO "Best Jazz" and UMA 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 album April Showers May Flowers. That year, she also kicked off a UK and overseas tour in support of the album with two concerts at the HMV Hammersmith Apollo accompanied by her full band and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Brown's second album entitled Love 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 in 2018

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 on BBC Radio 4's programme Loose Ends with Clive Anderson[12] She also presented a documentary on Williams Syndrome for the station.[13]

The Department of Education and DCMS 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 State Nadine Dorries, as National Council Member[15] at Arts Council England In July 2022, Brown was appointed chair of the British 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 the University of Kent, a position previously held by Gavin Esler.[19]

Charity

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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 for The Prince's Trust, Children & the Arts, Plan UK, Place2Be, World Child Cancer and London Music Fund.

The YolanDa Brown Music Award in conjunction with the University 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 of COVID-19.

In 2024, Brown became a member of the Blue Plaques panel.[22]

Honours

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Brown was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2023 New Year Honours for services to music, music education and broadcasting.[23]

Personal life

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Brown lives in Chigwell with her husband, a music promoter and restaurateur, and their two daughters. She was one of eleven individuals appointed a Deputy lieutenant of Greater London on 11 October 2022.[24]

Discography

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EPs and albums

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  • YolanDa Brown, Finding my voice (2007 CD - Black Grape Productions)
  • A Step Closer (2008 EP release – Black Grape Productions)
  • April Showers, May Flowers (February 2012 Album release – Black Grape Records)
  • April Showers, May Flowers-Live Sessions (May 2013 Album release CD/DVD – Black Grape Records)
  • Love Politics War (June 2017 Album release CD/digital/Vinyl – Black Grape Records)
  • YolanDa’s Band Jam (January 2021 Album release Digital– Sony Music Magic Star)

Awards and nominations

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Year Category Award Result Ref
2008 WIEA Awards Best Musician 2008 Won
Urban Music Awards Best Jazz Act 2008 Nominated [25]
MOBO Awards Best Jazz Act 2008 Won [26]
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 [27]
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

References

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  1. ^ "Jazz Musicians: YolanDaBrown". AllAboutJazz. 4 October 2015. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  2. ^ "YolanDa Brown appointed Chair of the BPI". 13 July 2022. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  3. ^ Kemble, Harry (8 June 2014). "Gants Hill-born saxophonist YolanDa Brown happy to remember her roots". Ilford Recorder. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  4. ^ Nepilova, Hannah (7 June 2019). "Why jazz saxophonist Yolanda Brown is taking on the BBC Proms". Financial Times. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d Lacey, Hester (28 July 2017). "Q&A with musician YolanDa Brown". Financial Times. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  6. ^ Smith, Emma (17 July 2017). "Me and My Motor: YolanDa Brown, saxophonist aka 'the Lewis Hamilton of jazz'". Sunday Times Driving. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Bancroftian Network: Yolanda Brown (OB 1994–1999) - BBC Breakfast". www.bancroftians.net. Retrieved 22 November 2019.
  8. ^ "International Students". University of Oviedo. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  9. ^ "YolanDa Brown Wins "Best Jazz" MOBO Awards 2008". YolanDa Brown. 29 November 2008. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021. Retrieved 28 January 2019 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "Meet the woman who created 'Posh Reggae'". BBC. 18 July 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  11. ^ Janice aka Miss Mad News (6 July 2018). "Award Winning YolanDa Brown To Host CBeebies Music Show". MAD NEWS UK. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  12. ^ "BBC Radio 4 Loose Ends". BBC. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  13. ^ "The Art of Living Only Happiness". BBC. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  14. ^ Department for Education, The Rt Hon Nick Gibb MP, and Caroline Dinenage MP (6 August 2021). "Panel of experts to shape future of music education". GOV.UK. Retrieved 20 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  15. ^ Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (14 June 2022). "YolanDa Brown, William Bush, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, Abigail Pogson, Deborah Shaw and Veronica Wadley (Baroness Fleet) have been appointed as National Council Members for Arts Council England". GOV.UK. Retrieved 20 July 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ Campbell, Joel (18 July 2022). "YolanDa Brown appointed Chair of the BPI". The Voice. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
  17. ^ "BAFTA's Children & Young People Awards 2022 - Nominations". www.bafta.org. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
  18. ^ Lutrario, Joe (29 June 2023). "YolanDa Brown to open Islington music venue and restaurant". restaurantonline.co.uk. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  19. ^ "YolanDa Brown named University of Kent chancellor". www.bbc.co.uk. 25 April 2024. Retrieved 25 April 2024.
  20. ^ "Yolanda Brown becomes new Chair of Youth Music". Perrett Laver. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  21. ^ "Magic, Improvisation and all that jazz". 2018 Music Mark. 2018. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  22. ^ "The Blue Plaques Panel". English Heritage. Retrieved 9 July 2024.
  23. ^ "No. 63918". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2022. p. N12.
  24. ^ "No. 63849". The London Gazette. 18 October 2022. p. 19802.
  25. ^ "UMA Awards 2008". 10 October 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  26. ^ "Mobo History". Retrieved 25 August 2022.
  27. ^ "Mobo Winners". Digital Spy. October 2009. Retrieved 25 August 2022.
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Academic offices
Preceded by Chancellor of the University of Kent
2014 – 2024 		Incumbent
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