MOBO winner Yolanda has the sax factor!

07 November 2008

AWARD-winning saxophonist Yolanda Brown has had to use all her time management skills to juggle her studies wIth her critically-acclaimed music career.

Yolanda, of Gants Hill, scooped a prestigious MOBO (Music Of Black Origin) Award recently for Best Jazz Act at a packed Wembley Arena, but is also studying for a PhD in management science at the University of Kent.

The 26-year-old former Bancroft's School and Beal High student beat veteran Courtney Pine to the award, but was soon back at her studies.

When I spoke to her, Yolanda had been at the University in Kent in the morning and was about to travel up to Sheffield in her role as support act for Motown legends, The Temptations', UK tour.

An avid Recorder reader throughout her life, she explained: "It was a wonderful feeling just to be nominated for the MOBO and to win it was a total surprise. And because the award was voted for by the public, it was even more special."

Yolanda was playing the piano at the age of five, soon progressed to the drums, and took up the saxophone at the age of 13 at Bancroft's, High Road, Woodford Green.

When she left Beal High, where she was head girl in her final year, to go to university, she said the saxophone was merely something she found therapeutic. Taking it out from time to time and playing helped her unwind.

After doing a masters in management science, she studied for an MA in methods of social research, and at that time joined a variety band called Blackgrape Cartel. When the band disbanded, the management company representing them asked to retain Yolanda as a solo artist and so, at the age of 23, she went it alone.

She says: "I couldn't have imagined the success that has followed, let alone a MOBO award three years later. I've had two CDs out and four sell-out solo shows.

"I just thought I'd be doing the odd gig at the weekend. It's been amazing."

Modest to the last, Yolanda's success is clearly down to the sort of hard work that has seen this smart cookie progress to her PhD course.

Now Yolanda looks forward to the Urban Music Awards at IndigO2 on Saturday, November 15, where she has also been nominated in the Best Jazz category, and performs her next solo show at Cadogan Hall in Sloane Square, Chelsea, on Saturday, November 29.

Without having to slip her any cash, she concludes: "I've always wanted to be in the Recorder. It'll be great for all my friends and family I've grown up with to read the piece.