At UD, we pride ourselves on being a diverse team who take direct action to equip the young people who are trying to break through into notoriously competitive creative environments, with the tools they need: Excellence, structure, confidence, opportunity and networks.
With our roots in the vibrant Black Music scenes that have emerged from east London, UD combines business acumen with an up-to-the-minute understanding of youth culture and stands at the crossroads where the creativity of emerging Black Music meets the music industry.
Staff, tutors, board and participants continue to represent the communities they live and work in. For us to be together, united as one, we must claim as our right the highest ambitions, the access to excellence that will equip us to achieve, and the deepest support that will sustain us on our journey.
We are passionate that the London of the future is found in our organisation today.
Hazel Durrant
Head of Operations
Hazel has 20 years’ experience of fundraising and developing multi-disciplinary art and social change projects mainly in east London. Before UD, she was a Director for Something and Son Communities and Peckham Palms. She also led on fundraising, business and organisational development at organisations including Create London and the Hackney Empire. She helped to set up the Education and Artist Development Programmes at the Empire.
Andy Gilbert
Musical Director & Tutor, Flames Collective
Andy Gilbert has over 20 years experience working as an artist, writer and producer. As a musical director, he has worked with various local groups to support their performance and he currently runs UD in-house group, Flames Collective.
ELLA-BONAI GORDON
A&R
Ella-Bonai Gordon is a 25-year-old, London-based artist manager and A&R Manager. Formerly part of Renowned Management, she works primarily with fast-rising Hackney singer-songwriter Hamzaa, and Presenter/DJ Henrie.
Hailing from Lewisham, South London, Ella-Bonai started out in the industry from an events background with the social enterprise Bigga Fish, Ella-Bonai ran over 25 sold-out events across the country boasting early performances from the likes of Krept and Konan, Yungen and Sneakbo.
John Hart
Education & Music Business Consultant
John Hart has over 20 years’ experience working in the industry as a writer, performer and teacher. He is now working as a freelance consultant and artist manager whilst continuing to write and record music. John is also a guest lecturer at a number of institutions including Demontfort University Leicester where he lectures in Music Business on the Arts Management Degree.
Taneisha Jackson
Tutor, School Record Label Project
Taneisha Jackson, is a singer/songwriter born in Jamaica, who moved to London at the age of 9. With a love of old-skool soul and funk, as well as pop and dance, Taneisha is one of the UK’s most exciting young songwriters (John Legend’s recorded her song, ‘‘A Place Called World, in 2014’ and is on course for more major success.
Pamela McCormick
Founder/Director
Pamela McCormick co-founded United Development in 2000, with the vision to create the premier agency for spotting and supporting Black music talent in the UK. Her vision for social and cultural change is the force behind the organisation while the foundation of her beliefs include a passion for equal opportunities, a deep appreciation for music and phenomenal ability to fundraise.
KLARA NIKLEWICZ
Marketing Manager
Klara Niklewicz is a marketing specialist who’s worked with high profile clients and brands across music, entertainment and music-tech industries. Her portfolio includes Abbey Road Studios, ITV Studios as well as music start-up, PEEX working alongside Sir Elton John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in Europe and US. With a passion for music and culture, Klara specialises in developing brand strategies and implementing creativity for music brands and artists across the world.
Adrian Okezie aka Digital Mozart
Tutor, School Record Label Project
Digital Mozart, a producer and DJ from east London, has dubbed his sound ‘Neo Garage’. Into blending R&B, hip-hop, UK garage and other forms of UK bass music with intricate vocal chops and sample delights (as heard on Beats 1’s and Rinse FM), Mozart also uses his skills as a graphic designer to complement his avant-garde approach.
Jade Richardson
Lead Mentor, Incubator
A BRIT School alumni, Jade has enjoyed a highly successful and storied career in the music business – starting out at Famous Music Publishing, before joining Polydor Records for Ms Dynamite’s Mercury-winning campaign and co-running the P Records imprint. Taking a sidestep, Jade then worked at hugely respected music charity UD, launching the pioneering ILUVLIVE, helping Rinse FM gain a community licence and dipping toes into management with MPHO.
Josh Wilde
Tutor, School Record Label Project
Josh is an established composer, producer and session musician. His work encompasses cinematic and electronic soundscapes for film and installation, alongside contemporary pop and R&B records.
Having played venues such as The Jazz Cafe, Roundhouse and Royal Albert Hall, Josh’s film scores have also been heard at the internationally renowned Venice Biennale. Most recently Josh co-produced the track Bold with award winning singer-songwriter Amahla, which has just released on Fearne Cotton’s album, Happy Place.
