YolanDa Brown is an award winning musician, broadcaster and philanthropist.
She is known for her delicious fusion of reggae, jazz and soul.
Her Debut Album, “April Showers May Flowers” was No1 on the Jazz Charts, her sophomore album released in 2017 “Love Politics War” also went to No1 in the UK Jazz charts. YolanDa has toured with The Temptations, Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Billy Ocean and collaborated with artists such as Snarky Puppy’s Bill Laurance, Kelly Jones from Stereophonics and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
A broadcaster too – working across TV and Radio, including her eponymous series for CBeebies, "YolanDa’s Band Jam", which recently won the Royal Television Society Awards as Best Children’s Programme. For the BBC Proms she hosted the Ella and Dizzy Centenary, as well as Last night of the Proms, Gospel Choir of the Year for BBC 1 and BBC Young Jazz Musician of the year. On BBC Radio 4, she co presents Loose Ends with Clive Anderson and covers for Trevor Nelson and Vanessa Feltz on BBC Radio 2. She presents “YolanDa Brown on Saturday” on Jazz FM. YolanDa has also appeared on a whole host of TV shows including Celebrity Mastermind, Sunday Brunch, House of Games and BBC Breakfast.
YolanDa was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Arts by the University of East London and also invited to meet the Queen at Buckingham Palace. A champion for the importance of music education, YolanDa is chair of Youth Music (one of the largest music education charities in the UK). In 2018 along with philanthropist James JP Drake, she launched the "Drake YolanDa Award" offering grants for emerging musicians.
She has sat on panels for PRS Foundation, The IVORs, etc and delivered Key Notes for Music Mark, ABRSM and Music Hubs across the country.
A real renaissance woman, set to reach new heights.
