Ayanna Mose Witter-Johnson (born April–June 1985, London Borough of Islington) is an English composer, singer, songwriter and cellist. Her notable performances include opening for the MOBO Awards "Pre-Show" in 2016, and playing the Royal Albert Hall, London, on 6 March 2018.
Background and career Ayanna Witter-Johnson was born in London, England, of Jamaican heritage;Grace, It's a groove, a declaration and an invitation to celebrate your uniqueness' - Ayanna Witter-Johnson on her new single", Guestlist, 1 April 2019. her mother is a teacher and her father is a television, film and theatre actor Wil Johnson.Dionne Grant, "Ayanna Witter-Johnson: String Sensation", The Voice, 8 February 2014. She began playing the piano when she was four years old and the cello at 13."Musicvein Interviews Ayanna Witter-Johnson", 14 March 2014.
Witter-Johnson completed a first-class degree in Classical Composition at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in the UK and won the Trinity Laban Silver Award in 2008, subsequently earning a master's of Music (MMus) degree in Composition at the Manhattan School of Music in the USA."Ayanna Witter-Johnson", Alumni Profiles, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. While in America in 2010, she became the first non-American to win first place at the Apollo Theater's famous Amateur Night,"Apollo Theater", NYC Manhattan."SheCAN: Quick Chat with Ayanna Witter-Johnson", Alt-Africa. whose previous winners included Ella Fitzgerald and Jimi Hendrix. Witter-Johnson (who shared first place) was the only non-American to have won the competition. She was a MOBO award shortlist nominee ("Best Jazz Act") in 2012."Ayanna Witter-Johnson nominated for 2012 MOBO Awards", Music Earth Rise, 24 September 2012.
Performing both classical and contemporary music – she sings while playing the cello and has described her song-writing style as "a bit of soul, hip-hop and reggae""Ayanna Witter-Johnson | PROFILE", The Cusp, 13 January 2017. – Witter-Johnson has toured with artists including Anoushka Shankar, Courtney Pine, Andrea Bocelli and Peter Gabriel. She recorded with Akala and composed for the London Symphony Orchestra."Ayanna Witter-Johnson" at The Nest Collective.
She has said: "Some of my inspirations both musical and non-musical are Maya Angelou, Nina Simone, Eckhart Tolle, Bach, Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, Sojourner Truth, Berio, Stravinsky, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Jackson, Ligeti, Jill Scott, Marcus Garvey and Sting....They have encouraged me to celebrate my authenticity, to explore my unique mode of expression and to write from a place of personal truth."
Awards 2008: Trinity Silver Award 2008: Vivian Prindl Outreach Prize 2010: Winner of Amateur Night Live at the Apollo Theater in Harlem 2011: Edward & Sally Van Lier Fund 2012: Shortlist nominee for "Best Jazz Act" at the MOBO Awards
Selected discography 2011: Truthfully (EP) 2014: Black Panther (EP) 2018: Truthfully Still (EP) 2019: Road Runner (Album) 2020: Crossroads (Single) 2023: Ocean Floor (Album) References
External links Official website Ayanna Witter-Johnson on Magic Classical Stress-Free Lunch Hour with Ayanna Witter-Johnson on Magic Classical Ayanna Witter-Johnson (Musicbrainz) Royal Albert Hall: Ayanna Witter-Johnson "'Roxanne' | Ayanna Witter Johnson | live at MOBO Awards Pre-Show | 2016", YouTube video. "SheCAN: Quick Chat with Ayanna Witter-Johnson", Alt-Africa.