Ayanna Witter-Johnson joins LMF as Ambassador and Trustee
We are absolutely delighted to welcome multi-instrumentalist Ayanna Witter-Johnson as an Ambassador and Trustee. The acclaimed singer, songwriter, pianist and cellist will join Nicola Benedetti CBE, YolanDa Brown, Jess Gillam, MBE, Chi-chi Nwanoku OBE, and Simon Cowell among others as an Ambassador and join the Board of Trustees, led by Chair, Baroness Fleet, Veronica Wadley CBE.
LMF Ambassadors play a significant role within the charity, both promoting our work and as inspiring role models for young musicians. We are incredibly proud to be able to give our Scholars the chance to meet, perform alongside, and learn from such world-class musicians. We are delighted that Ayanna will be joining young musicians at our next workshop at the Royal Academy of Music on Sunday 3 July to celebrate the graduation of our 2018 cohort, as they reach the end of their four years on the programme.
“As a Londoner myself, I fully understand the importance of supporting young musicians in the capital on their musical journey. The LMF is undoubtedly creating life-changing opportunities for young musicians to thrive so I am truly honoured to be joining as an Ambassador and Trustee and look forward to being part of the organisation’s fantastic work in our city.” - Ayanna Witter-Johnson
About Ayanna Witter-Johnson
Ayanna Witter-Johnson is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, pianist and cellist successfully crossing the boundaries of classical, jazz, reggae and R&B music. After graduating with a first-class degree from both the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, and the Manhattan School of Music, Ayanna has been commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, Güerzenich Orchester, Ligeti Quartet, Kronos Quartet, Philharmonia, Solem Quartet and The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company to name a few. She has also been arranger/orchestrator for the LSO and the BBC Symphony Orchestra.
A second-generation Jamaican born in Britain, Ayanna is a maverick cellist, with virtuosic instrumental and vocal style that effortlessly blends classical music with her reggae and soul heritage, as demonstrated by her four EPs ('Truthfully', 'Black Panther', 'Ella, Reuben & Ay' and ‘Rise Up’) and debut album 'Road Runner'.
An acclaimed performer, Ayanna has collaborated with several stellar artists, touring across the UK and Europe gaining nominations from AIM Awards (Best Live Act) and MOBO Awards. A co-writer and featured artist on Anoushka Shankar's single 'Those Words' from the Grammy-nominated ‘Love Letters’ EP, Ayanna has also collaborated with and featured on Nitin Sawhney's stunning single 'Movement Variation II' taken from his acclaimed latest album ‘Immigrants’.
Her live shows are intimate journeys that chronicle her experience as a female artist in the 21st century, due to her mesmerising vocals, uncompromising lyrics, and ability to deftly reinterpret songs on the cello. Ayanna is the definition of eclectic soul.