THE SCHOLARS
Meet the Scholars
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Jojo Mukeza
2018 • Scholar
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Esther Lenda Bokuma
2019 • Scholar
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Daniel Beckley
2019 • Associate Scholar
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Isatta Cesay
2020 • Associate Scholar
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Idris Green-Holder
2021 • Scholar
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Shanice Edwards
2021 • Scholar
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Janelle Mitchell
2022 • Scholar
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Jewel John
2023 • Scholar
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TAREIC ALPHONSE
2024 • Scholar
SPOTLIGHT on the scholars
Janelle Mitchell • 2022 Scholar
Janelle Mitchell is a London-based creative and emerging music executive, who started off as a DJ in 2017, and now finds herself supporting artists from Kojey Radical to Little Simz, whilst also guest mixing for BBC 1Xtra, KISS FM and Capital XTRA and DJing at festivals, from Stormzy’s Merky Festival in Ibiza to Strawberries & Creem Festival. Janelle also works as an Artist Relations Manager at Believe, continuing to build a reputation in the industry.
Idris Green-Holder • Universal Music UK Graduate Scholar 2021
Idris was born and raised in Handsworth Birmingham, from Jamaican heritage. He studied Social Work at University Of West London, with an initial dream to work within the mental health sector. For 5 years he has worked within the social care industry, working with vulnerable young people and project management in the housing sector. Two years ago, he started a music management company, managing black music artists from the West Midlands. With a lifelong passion for music and A&R, the career pivot provided the confirmation that he needed to really pursue his purpose with passion.
Tareic Alphonse • 2024 Scholar
Tareic Alphonse is currently the Membership Manager at The Ivors Academy of Music Creators. He’s also School Governor for Mossbourne Community Academy. Tareic is passionate about the creative arts, creators rights and helping to create opportunities within the community for those who otherwise wouldn’t get a chance.
Shanice Edwards • 2021 Scholar
Shanice Edwards is a Music Business and Arts Management Graduate, who began studying music at Birmingham’s first performing arts academy BOA. Rising from humble beginnings, she is a first-generation graduate from an extremely proud family of Caribbean heritage. She has been driven in developing her understanding of the music industry academically and has gained experience through both independent projects and voluntary work. Shanice is passionate about new artists, music creation and giving opportunities to talent and is focused on a career in the A&R field of the music industry.
Esther Lenda Bokuma • 2020 Scholar
Esther is an artist, and was already an accomplished academic and linguist - alongside her musical endeavours. The Richard Antwi Scholarship supported Esther to further develop her expertise and understanding of the music industry, while nurturing her own development as an artist. Esther has contributed to panels and made significant journalistic contributions, exploring inter alia, the experience of Black women in the music industry.
Esther is now exploring the world of creative partnerships at Globe, Universal Music Group’s brand partnerships division.
Isatta Cesay • 2020 Associate Scholar
Isatta is a music entrepreneur, DJ, podcast curator, artist, and Woman Of The Future Award nominee. She completed her MA in Music Business Management at Westminster University with Distinction in Sept 2021. During this time she was a visiting lecturer at The University of Hertfordshire (BA Music Business) and was published in PRS for Music’s M Magazine.
She presents new artists on her monthly Heart To Art Show on Soho Radio, and combines the discovery of new acts, artist development, artistic experience and research to create music projects. The year Isatta began her Masters Degree she founded Doctored Sound, an independent record label, consultancy, and music education company, and March 2022 will see the label's first album release featuring critically acclaimed new acts.
Her work with Doctored Sound as an artist development consultant has seen her partner with the BBC Rap Game UK, Sony Music UK, Columbia Records, Universal Music, and educational facilities throughout the country.
Daniel Beckley • 2020 Associate Scholar
Daniel is a legal scholar who also has a passion for music, playing multiple instruments. In 2019, Daniel joined Esther as a joint recipient of the scholarship, allowing him to expand his knowledge base while combining his legal and business skills, with his musical literacy and instincts, to exemplary affect.
Daniel is now placed at Universal Music Publishing.
Jojo Mukeza • 2019 Scholar
Jojo Mukeza is the inaugural recipient of the Richard Antwi Scholarship, graduating in 2019. While studying for his MA Jojo was acknowledged for his work on the critically acclaimed album ‘Ghetto Gospel’ (by the artist Ghetts) with a prestigious nomination for an Ivor Novello award. Having already spent a number of years working within the music industry, particularly with emerging artists, Jojo has further developed his instinctive skills and strengths in artist development and talent discovery.
He is currently employing these skills across the A&R and Marketing functions of the newly formed 0207 Def Jam label at Universal Music Group.
Features
Esther Lenda Bokuma
Class of 2020
After earning a degree in English & Italian, along with a PGSE teaching certification to keep the bills paid while she developed her music, Esther decided to return to higher education to create new opportunities more aligned with her passion. The Richard Antwi Scholarship elevated her experience to the next level, and earned her a position in Brand Partnerships at Universal Music.
On the MA, Esther’s dissertation explored inequality in the experiences of darker-skinned Black British women in R&B/Soul, dealing with racism, colourism and sexism in the UK music industries. As well as looking at the intersection of Afrofuturism and technology as a tool of liberation from inequalities.
Esther sits on the recently launched F-List board of directors led by former BASCA CEO Vick Bain (now known as the Ivors Academy) that focuses on gender parity for Women in Music. She also serves as Sound Connections Wired4Music Trustee, associate and senior producer, with a focus on building career pathways for young people into the music industry, education and community building in the digital space.
In Conversation with Esther
Listen to our interview with Esther, where she speaks about her motivations for applying, and her experiences on the MA through the scholarship.
Daniel Beckley
Class of 2020
With a background in law, and a rich diversity of musical talent, Daniel joined Esther as a joint recipient of the scholarship and was given the opportunity to excel on the MA Music Business Management course with the backing of the scholarship team.
“The journey has been extremely positive. Since receiving the scholarship, I’ve been part of a community. It’s an extended family of people who want to provide you with counsel, and help you navigate a career in music. It’s been very eyeopening for me. This is a very relationship-driven industry, and it’s so difficult to get started in the very early and delicate stages of your career. The scholarship has allowed me to have a lot of clarity and be exposed to people that I otherwise wouldn’t have been exposed to. It’s allowed me to get in touch with key individuals from major labels, to secure short term internships in legal firms, and to ultimately obtain this bespoke opportunity at UMPG. ”
IN CONVERSATION WITH Daniel
Read our interview with Daniel, where he speaks about his experience on the MA, as part of the scholarship, and his personal ambitions leading up to this new chapter in his journey.