Ayanna Witter-Johnson is a one-woman orchestra — a singer, songwriter, pianist, cellist and composer whose sound lives between worlds. Seamlessly blending classical, jazz, reggae, soul and R&B, she taps, strums and bows her cello while singing in a voice that is rich, grounded and transcendent. A second-generation Jamaican born in Britain, her work celebrates her heritage, culture and identity through music that is both deeply rooted and boundlessly inventive. Each performance is a masterclass in musical storytelling — honest, virtuosic and utterly original.
A celebrated composer, Witter-Johnson has been commissioned by the London Symphony Orchestra, Kronos Quartet, Chineke! Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, Marco Blauuw, and numerous chamber ensembles. Her composition FAIYA! was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle in Trafalgar Square. Recent honours include the Nordoff and Robbins O2 Silver Clef Classical Award (2023) and an RPS & AIM Awards ‘Best Live Performer’ nominations.
2023’s Ocean Floor — a collaborative album with the London Symphony Orchestra Percussion Ensemble — dives into her Jamaican heritage, weaving classical textures with island rhythms and ancestral storytelling. In 2025 the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra co-commissioned and premiered Bacchanale to celebrate their 90th anniversary, with the German premiere from Gürzenich-Orchester Köln following in 2026.
Current projects in include her first TV drama for Sky Arts (premiering in 2026) and a highly anticipated sophomore album New Roots (due Autumn 2026) - a reflection on identity, belonging and rebirth, expands her signature fusion of RnB, Soul, Classical & Jazz, tracing her Jamaican heritage through lush orchestrations and raw, personal storytelling to create a sound both deeply rooted and boldly forward-looking.
A MOBO Award-nominated artist on the rise, she has been championed by icons from Gilles Peterson to Jools Holland and has collaborated and toured with musical legends including Andrea Bocelli, Peter Gabriel, Nitin Sawhney and Anoushka Shankar, co-writing and featuring on her single 'Those Words' from the Grammy-nominated Love Letters EP. Ayanna’s televised performances include Later… with Jools Holland, the BBC Proms and Sing It Loud: Black and Proud (Channel 4). A graduate of Trinity Laban Conservatoire and the Manhattan School of Music, Ayanna made history as the only non-American to win Amateur Night Live at Harlem’s legendary Apollo Theater — the prize money from which funded her first EP.
Witter-Johnson has released four EPs (Truthfully, Black Panther, Ella, Reuben & Ay and Rise Up) and her debut album Road Runner (2019) on her own independent label, Hill and Gully Records. Collaborating with producers Marc Mac (4Hero) and James Yarde (Terri Walker, Jamelia, Eric Benet), and featuring artists such as pianist Robert Mitchell, singer Cleveland Watkiss and rapper Akala, her recordings blend soul, classical, jazz and reggae with effortless command. Her surprise 2021 EP Rise Up — a powerful celebration of Black culture and identity — featured Akala on the title track and Cleveland Watkiss on Declaration of Rights, earning critical acclaim and widespread airplay across BBC Radio 1, 1Xtra, 2, 3, 4, 6, Jazz FM and Magic Classical.
Born and raised in North London to Jamaican parents, Ayanna grew up surrounded by the sounds of reggae, gospel and classical music. Her artistic lineage weaves through the spiritual depth of Nina Simone, the soul of India.Arie, and the fearless innovation of Bob Marley. After earning a first-class Bachelor’s degree at Trinity Laban and a Master’s at the Manhattan School of Music (supported by a Higher Education Scholarship), she has built a career grounded in authenticity, excellence and cross-genre collaboration. From performing to composing, Ayanna’s music stands at the crossroads of history and innovation — a sonic bridge between worlds. Whether performing solo with her cello, accompanied by her band or leading an orchestra with her voice, she continues to affirm her place as one of the UK’s most compelling and transformative musical voices.