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YolanDa Brown streams children’s concert from London’s Southbank Centre
MOBO Award winner and CBeebies, Radio 2 and Jazz FM presenter YolanDa Brown has released a virtual streamed show from the Southbank Centre.
“The last time I was on a stage in the UK was at the Imagine Festival at the Southbank Centre in Feb 2020 and then Covid and lockdowns followed,” said YolanDa prior to recording the concert. “It’s so serendipitous that over a year later, my first time back on stage will be to perform a special virtual gig for millions of children all around the world, back on the Southbank Centre stage. Looking forward to spreading the good vibes and having one big virtual party.”
Earlier this year, YolanDa launched free online music lessons for teachers, parents and young children to promote music education in primary schools during lockdown. All the music from her debut children’s album YolanDa’s Band Jam, released on Sony Music UK’s family label Magic Star, is incorporated into the lessons and performed during the show.
“This year has been difficult for many but music’s ability to uplift and bring people together has prevailed, and this event embodies that sentiment,” said Nicola Tuer, COO of Sony Music UK & Ireland. “Music education and resources should be accessible to all children, and YolanDa’s Join the Jam campaign aligns with much of the work we have been doing through our global social justice fund, to drive meaningful change towards a more equitable society.”
“We’re delighted to be hosting and producing a virtual streamed concert with YolanDa,” said Alexandra Brierley, Director of Creative Learning, Southbank Centre. “Her mission to share the joy and importance of music with children resonates with ours. We aim to inspire a love of the arts through music education and our work with schools as part of our year-round programme of creative learning experiences for children.”
YolanDa is thrilled to also share that over 30,000 children have now utilised her free online music lessons, learning materials and videos during lockdown. Made available by Sony Music UK’s Magic Star and Twinkl, one of the world’s largest providers of online educational resources, the materials are available to download from the Twinkl website.
“We are so excited to have played a role in creating these resources with YolanDa and we know the concert will only inspire children further to learn about, enjoy and create music,” said Jonathan Seaton, Co-founder and CEO at Twinkl. “YolanDa’s work and these resources are making music more accessible in schools and we are delighted that they have been so popular already. We look forward to hearing even more from schools and pupils about how they are using them to explore and create.”
Watch the concert below: