United Kingdom 
Label Spotlight: Sunflowermusic Records 2026
5 months ago
Ayanna Witter-Johnson is a critically acclaimed composer, singer, songwriter, and cellist who brings a distinct blend of genres to her performances and compositions, engaging diverse audiences and collaborating with leading artists across the globe.
Collaborated with Anoushka Shankar on various projects and tours.
Collaborated with Andrea Bocelli on performances and projects.
Collaborated with Nitin Sawhney, a prominent artist and composer.
Collaborated with Jools Holland, an English pianist, bandleader, singer, composer and television presenter.
Commissioned the piece 'Island Suite' by Ayanna Witter-Johnson. The piece incorporates elements of Jamaican heritage and musical techniques.
Composed for the London Symphony Orchestra, indicating a significant compositional achievement.
Composed a piece for the Güerzenich Orchester.
Composed a piece for the Ligeti Quartet.
Composed a piece for the Kronos Quartet.
Worked as a composer for The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company.
Received support from The Open Fund for Organisations to work with innovative visual content for her debut album release in 2017. Also, awarded The Composers' Fund to create a 20-minute piece responding to Beethoven's Grosse Fuge and Bartok's 3rd String Quartet.
Announced as a 2020/21 season participant in the Composers' Academy, in collaboration with the Royal Philharmonic Society.
Announced as a 2020/21 season participant in the Composers' Academy, in collaboration with the Philharmonia Orchestra.
Ayanna Mose Witter-Johnson was born in London, England, in the second quarter of 1985. Her mother was a teacher, and her father, Wil Johnson, is a television, film, and theatre actor. She began her musical journey playing the piano at age four and later picked up the cello at 13. Witter-Johnson pursued formal music education, earning a first-class degree in Classical Composition from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in the UK, where she also won the Trinity Laban Silver Award in 2008. She continued her studies at the Manhattan School of Music in the USA, completing a Master of Music (MMus) degree in Composition.
Her career gained international recognition in 2010 when she became the first non-American to win first place at the Apollo Theater’s Amateur Night, an event previously won by legendary artists like Ella Fitzgerald and Jimi Hendrix. This achievement highlighted her unique talent as a performer who combines soulful vocals with mesmerising cello playing. In 2012, she was a MOBO Award shortlist nominee for ‘Best Jazz Act.’ Throughout her career, Ayanna has performed both classical and contemporary music, describing her songwriting style as incorporating elements of soul, hip-hop, and reggae. Her ability to bridge different musical worlds has led to collaborations with a diverse array of prominent artists and esteemed orchestras.
Ayanna Witter-Johnson has consistently released original music, with her discography including multiple EPs such as ‘Truthfully’ (2011), ‘Black Panther’ (2014), and ‘Truthfully Still’ (2018), as well as full-length albums like ‘Road Runner’ (2019) and ‘Ocean Floor’ (2023). Her compositional work extends to commissions from prestigious institutions including the London Symphony Orchestra, Güerzenich Orchester, Ligeti Quartet, and Kronos Quartet. She has also contributed to projects for The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company and has been an ambassador and trustee for the London Music Fund.
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