Kent Business School alumna, YolanDa Brown, has been awarded an OBE for services to music, music education and broadcasting in the 2023 New Year Honours list by his Majesty the King.
YolanDa, an award-winning saxophonist and TV personality, studied Undergraduate Master’s in European Management Science at Kent Business School back in 2001, staying with the Division for seven years.
Her career has seen her tour with the likes of The Temptations, Billy Ocean, Mica Paris and Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues Orchestra as well as being awarded two MOBO Awards.
She also presents prime time TV Shows including Songs of Praise and Cbeebies’ YolanDa’s Band Jam. More recently, she was appointed Chair of the BPI – the representative voice for independent and major record labels across the UK. She also works as Chair for charity Youth Music and is an ambassador for the Princes’ Trust.
Speaking of her OBE, YolanDa remarked: ‘It’s been so difficult keeping this a secret, now the world knows! I am really honoured to receive an OBE for services to music, music education and broadcasting in the 2023 New Year Honours List by his Majesty the King.
‘My career continues to be eclectic and doesn’t fit in a box, so I am grateful to everyone that continues to walk with me as a musician, broadcaster or campaigning for children and their access to music education.
‘I dedicate this honour to my Grandma who passed away recently and taught me faith, belief and resilience and also to my daughters as they fill the world with love on their journey. Thank you to every one of you that come to my gigs, leave lovely comments on my socials and support me on my various endeavours, this is for you too!’
Of her Kent Business School education, YolanDa remarked previously: ‘Learning methodology within Management Science was fascinating. How an algorithm can help make deliveries, and simulation to aid decision making. I loved all that.
She continued: ‘I am still very much a businessperson, using all the lessons I picked up at Kent every day.’
Read more about YolanDa’s time at Kent Business School, here: YolanDa: “I am a Businessperson, Using Lessons from KBS Every day” – Kent Business School