About Yolanda

Yolanda F. Johnson has had an outstanding career as a performing artist and philanthropist; as a composer, as an educator, and as a supporter of the arts and women’s equity. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, she began studying classical piano at an early age. Soon after, Yolanda’s vocal talent was discovered when she joined the choir at her late grandfather’s church. Yolanda began her first classical vocal study at age nine and began composing at twelve.

She completed her B.A. in voice performance and graduate studies in voice, and an M.A. in Arts Management. She then served as the Acting Executive Director of the Barthelmes Conservatory of Music. She also served on the faculty of Tulsa Community College as a Voice and Humanities instructor before relocating to the NYC area.

Yolanda has performed nationally and internationally in several musical venues including opera, concert, oratorio and sacred music. She is an active recitalist/lecturer on several musical subjects, specifically spirituals as related to the Underground Railroad and the works of women composers. Yolanda has recorded an album of Spirituals, Feel the Spirit! and co-created Music She Wrote, a celebration of women composers, with colleagues, Dr. Brooke Bryant and Dr. Michael Eisenberg. She also actively composes new musical works. Yolanda made her New York City debut as Zerlina in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and has performed in many venues and with various presenters across the country.

Among the roles she has portrayed are: Magda Sorel in The Consul, Anita Hill in Ben Yarmolinsky’s Clarence and Anita with Underworld Productions Opera Outreach, Noemie in Massenet’s Cendrillon with New York Lyric Opera and Millie in Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed that Line to Freedom by Nkeiru Okoye.

Yolanda is a member of the Sigma Alpha Iota International Women’s Music Fraternity and has more than a decade of experience as a worship leader and church music director. She has been a featured presenter at Performing the World International Performing Arts Conference. She was also on the voice and music composition faculty at the Mozartina Music Conservatory. Yolanda is on the artist roster of the Westchester Chamber Soloists. In addition to her life as an artist, Yolanda is also a current International Advisory Board member of and the former Representative for the Foundation for Post-Conflict Development to the United Nations, a member of the board of directors of the Hudson River Museum, Special Advisor to the American Composers Orchestra, board of directors of PowHer NY, board of directors of the Lehman College Art Gallery and was the first African American President in the more than 40-year history of Women In Development, New York. Yolanda is also the Founder and President of YFJ Consulting, LLC and Founder of Women of Color in Fundraising and Philanthropy (WOC)® and Allies in Action Membership Network™. With her successful performance background as the basis, Yolanda created All the World’s A Stage, a workshop that uses performance practice for confidence building, public speaking, and making the ask for yourself both personally and professionally. All the World’s A Stage has a special installment geared specifically towards fundraising and philanthropy. Stay tuned to the performance calendar for Yolanda’s important upcoming dates and events!