NEWS
Mastermind Appearance by YolanDa Brown
on BBC ONE
Clive Myrie puts four more famous faces under the spotlight in another episode of the classic quiz, where celebrities donate to their chosen charities.
Cricket broadcaster Jonathan Agnew, musician and presenter YolanDa Brown, actor Davood Ghadami and writer and comedian Jessica Knappett are in the famous black chair tonight, answering questions on the history of cakes, Disney's Descendants films, the Battle of Thermopylae and The Fast Show.
Sesame Street’s Elmo shares mindfulness moment with YolanDa for Children’s
Mental Health Week
Sesame Street’s Elmo shares a “mindfulness moment” with YolanDa Brown in a video to mark Children’s Mental Health Week. Elmo and Brown reflect on the things that make them happy and celebrate their days. Elmo celebrates taking his puppy for a walk and enjoying the fresh air, while Brown celebrates playing her saxophone and sharing her love of music.
After 6 Years YolanDa Brown to
step down as Chair of Youth Music
YolanDa said: "Some News… After 6 fulfilling years as Chair of Youth Music It is time to pass the baton in March 2024. It’s been an incredible journey, one filled with learning, inspiration, and most importantly, meaningful impact in the lives of young people through the power of music. I have immense admiration and love for Youth Music, from our CEO Matt Griffiths to the brilliant senior leadership team, every single team member and the awesome trustees over the years. We are all driven by the same goal, to make music and all its benefits available to every young person. My bond with this remarkable charity is enduring, and I will undoubtedly miss the delightful presence of the office dogs, who often graced our board meetings as cherished guests. The most awesome board of Trustees past and present and the fab Youth music staff smashing it daily for young people and their access to music… thank you all.
Youth Music are recruiting a new Chair.
Fantastic Music Week Feature
on YolanDa Brown
Few working in the music industry can stake a claim to be involved in as many different areas of it as YolanDa Brown. Almost a year into her role as chair of the BPI, the saxophonist, composer, radio presenter and music education expert is now opening Soul Mama, a new grassroots venue and restaurant. Here, the winner of the Music Champion category at our Women In Music Awards 2022 expands on her vision for the business and talks live music, diversification and hard work…
YolanDa Brown Speaks at the Nominations Launch for the 2024 Brit Awards
Dr. Jo Twist OBE, BPI Chief Executive and YolanDa Brown OBE DL, BPI Chair said in a joint statement: “We congratulate all the nominees on their deserved recognition of a brilliant year in music, and in particular RAYE on her exceptional achievement of a record seven nominations, underlining a truly outstanding 12 months for her. It’s also wonderful that women overall have performed so strongly across so many of the awards categories.
King Charles awards YolanDa Brown OBE
at her Buckingham Palace Investiture
YolanDa Brown has picked up an honour from the King at Buckingham Palace just a day after performing in front of him.
The saxophonist and broadcaster spoke of her pride after she was handed her OBE by Charles for services to music, music education and broadcasting. It comes after she played at the Commonwealth Day ceremony at Westminster Abbey on Monday.
Celebrity Bridge of Lies Appearance for YolanDa on BBC One with Ross Kemp
Ross Kemp presents the high stakes quiz, where a team of celebrity radio presenters - Tony Blackburn, BBC Radio 1’s Katie Thistleton, YolanDa Brown from Jazz FM and Heart FM’s Lauren Layfield - take on the Bridge of Lies for their chosen charities.
Watch Portrait Artist of the Year 2022 as YolanDa Brown sits on Sky Arts
YolanDa will be appearing on Portrait artist of the year Sky Arts along with Bruno Tonioli and Helen Sharman. Presented by Stephen Mangan and Joan Bakewell.
Music Week Awards YolanDa Brown the Music Champion Award
The Music Week Women In Music Awards packed with top executives, artists and music creatives. The Music Champion Award shines a light on women working in a public-facing capacity who encourage the use of music as a force for change, inclusion, education or improvement.
Jools Holland and YolanDa Brown present the Boisdale Music Awards
Jools and YolanDa present the Boisdale Music Award with eclectic performances live in Canary Wharf.
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YolanDa Brown appointed by Nadine Dorries (Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport) - as National Council Member at Arts Council England
The Secretary of State has appointed YolanDa Brown, Jamie Njoku-Goodwin, and Abigail Pogson as National Council Members for Arts Council England for four year terms, from 15 May 2022 until 14 May 2026.
Watch YolanDa on Celebrity Antiques
Roadtrip with Gareth Malone
BBC TWO - 12th Dec 7pm
Choirmaster extraordinaire Gareth Malone and world-renowned saxophonist YolanDa Brown visit Edinburgh and Fife. This pitch-perfect duo is gunning around town in a 1960s motor, each with £400 to buy antiques that will hopefully ring up some big profits at auction. Regular Road Trippers David Harper and Raj Bisram are joining the band ready to advise.
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YolanDa Features on Jools Holland's
New Album - Pianola Out Now
Jool's brand New Album Pianola is out now. YolanDa Brown features on the track “surfin”. The album also features Herbie Hancock, Gregory Porter, Ruby Turner, Lang Lang - 郎朗 Sir Tom Jones, Jamie Cullum and loads more amazing musicians. Listen on all steaming platforms.
YolanDa Appears on Christmas Special
of The Hit List on BBC ONE 11th Dec
Joining Marvin and Rochelle Humes for this festive episode are Actors and EastEnders stars Jake Wood and Tamzin Outhwaite, Choirmaster Gareth Malone and Saxophonist YolanDa Brown and comedians Alex Brooker and Ellie Taylor - but who will sleigh the competition and get the chance to win £10,000 for their chosen charity? Get ready to play along and shout out the answers at the telly!
The Government assembles advisory panel, including YolanDa Brown -
National Plan for Music Education
The panel will work with the DfE and DCMS to ensure the refreshed plan supports the government’s aims for all young people to have access to a high quality music education and opportunities to explore music.
JAZZ FM announce YolanDa Brown
as new presenter for a new slot
Every Saturday 2-6pm
YolanDa Brown will present a weekly show from Saturday, 30th June.
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Her show – “YolanDa Brown on Saturday” – will broadcast between 2pm and 6pm every Saturday afternoon and will allow YolanDa to showcase some of the world’s greatest jazz, soul and blues performers with her inimitable style, full of passion, personality and fun.
Royal Television Society Win for "YolanDa's Band Jam" CBeebies
Children's show
YolanDa Brown wins her first award as a Broadcaster with an RTSNW Award for Best Children's Programme (Pre - school).
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Nominees:
CBeebies Stargazing: Mission Moon, Clangers, Daisy & Ollie Christmas Special; 'What's so Great About Christmas Anyway?’.
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Jools Holland interviews YolanDa Brown on BBC Radio 2
In the first of this new series Jools is joined in the studio by YolanDa Brown, the UK’s premiere female saxophonist.
A multiple Mobo winner, YolanDa is also the presenter of YolanDa’s Band Jam on CBeebies, a show often described as 'Later… for pre-schoolers'.
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BBC Teach - Bring The Noise with
YolanDa Brown
BBC launch an educational campaign to inspire children to become musicians and see the joys of music-making. Zara Larsson, Nile Rodgers, JP Cooper and YolanDa Brown are ambassadors. YolanDa Brown says: "The heartbeat of every generation are children and it is important that we nurture them and teach them to dream. I am pleased to be an ambassador of the Bring The Noise campaign, introducing children all around the country to music, music making and the endless joy that comes with it.”
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Dave Stewart from Eurythmics and YolanDa Brown at Royal
Festival Hall
The most eclectic and absolutely awesome artists were assembled by the legend Dave Stewart for a special concert celebrating Eurythmics at Southbank Centre
Featuring Beverley Knight, Emeli Sande and more.
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Congratulations to Nile Rodgers for the brilliant curation for the meltdown festival.
Evening Standard Feature- YolanDa Brown
How does she fit it all in? “I don’t have the answer… but if it’s in my iCalendar, it’s happening,” says Brown, showing me her iPhone’s meticulously colour-coded schedule. Family time is currently green and her daughter is yellow: “She’s got her own social calendar now.”
BBC NEWS -
Music education 'creates more well-rounded people' YolanDa Brown
Jazz star YolanDa Brown says pressure must be brought to bear on politicians to understand the social benefits of music education.
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In March, the BPI said English state schools have seen a 21% drop in music provision in the last five years.
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"It's not just learning notes or ticking things we can get a grade in, it's part of our wellbeing," she said.
Drake YolanDa Award 2019 Shortlist Chosen
The 10 winners of the 2019 prize were selected from over 200 entries to the new prize by a stellar panel of industry judges including celebrity choir master Gareth Malone OBE; music editor of The Independent Roisin O’Connor; X Factor winner Matt Cardle, Ben Earle from UK country band The Shires and chaired by YolanDa Brown
BBC 2 Appearance for YolanDa Brown "Gareth Malone's All Star Music Quiz"
The team line-ups include former MP turned presenter, Ed Balls (on piano); Cold Feet and Fast Show star John Thomson (on drums); TV presenter and former JLS member JB Gill (on piano); comedian and actor Rob Rouse (on guitar and trumpet), Olivier Award-winning comedian Pippa Evans (on guitar) and yours truly YolanDa Brown on Saxophone!
Royal Festival
Hall - YolanDa Brown 10 Year Anniversary
Celebration Concert
Epic concert at Royal Festival Hall celebrating YolanDa Brown's 10 Year Anniversary in music. With Special Guests: Dame Evelyn Glennie, Lemar and Randy Valentine.
CBeebies Proms Performance with YolanDa Brown
It’s finally going on TV The CBeebies Prom. A star-studded musical journey to the moon! Feat YolanDa Brown,Justin Fletcher, Nigel Clarke, Chris Jarvis, Maddiemoate and Cat Sandion with the BBC Singers, Chineke Orchestra & conductor Kwame Ryan and Hans Zimmer
Key Note Speaker - Music Mark Conference
Key Note Speech on "Youth Voice" at the Music Mark conference delivered by YolanDa Brown
Hillsong Europe Conference Appearance - YolanDa Brown
YolanDa speaks about having a voice in your sphere of influence and performs at the Hillsong Conference in 2018, live from the O2 Arena
Sky News Interview - YolanDa Brown
YolanDa Brown appears on Sky News to discuss her new album, as well as her performance at the Henley Festival.
Billy Ocean Tour with YolanDa Brown
YolanDa Brown embarks on a nationwide tour with Legend Billy Ocean.
YolanDa presents BBC Radio 4 Documentary on Williams Syndrome
YolanDa Brown steps inside the world of Williams Syndrome as she joins the campers, saxophone in hand. In meeting those with Williams Syndrome, she discovers how they hear music in unexpected places, be it a coffee machine producing a C note or a bell with a high frequency.
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Producer: Kate Holland
A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4.