Yvonne McLellan
Yvonne’s career in music has been varied and fun, loving every minute of it helping her not only learn her own work but achieving an understanding of the creative industries as a whole.
She began her working life spending a short time as in intern at Sony/ATV Publishing whilst studying music to then working as the project lead for a market research project for Creation Records / Ignition Management (Oasis). From there, Yvonne worked from the assistants role to becoming an International Label Manager for labels such as Rawkus (Mos Def, High & Mighty, DJ Spinna, Eminem, Pharoahe Monch), Ultimate Dilemma (Jadell, Bobby Hughes Experience), Luaka Bop (Susana Baca, Los Amigos Invisibles), OM (People Under the Stairs) to Asphodel (Mix Master Mike).
From there she worked for Active for their roster (Martin Bennett, Zuba) and at events including Showcase Scotland, Celtic Connections and Merchant City Hogmanay to owning a record shop in Ayrshire. During this time, Yvonne also spent a year at college training in digital media, graphic design and web development.
After having her first child, she returned to work part time at Ayr College as the music business lecturer where she held that post for 10 years, developing and delivering courses and modules for the music performance, music business and sound production courses.
She then became an associate lecturer at the University of West of Scotland for a few years after completing her BA in Commercial Music, Advanced Diploma in Teacher Training and Masters in Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The latter also led to Yvonne starting her own music publishing company here in Scotland called Native Publishing (The Van T’s, Crash Club, Vukovi) and in Artist Management (Model Aeroplanes) which led to a partnership with other fierce women in music in creating an innovative Music Marketing and Label Services company called the Lost Art Agency (Rachel Sermanni, Joesef).
One of her most favourite jobs though was working in A&R for V2 Music (Justice), Island Records (Ben Howard, Model Aeroplanes) to then SpinnUp (Universal Music) where she regularly featured on Radio 1 (The Nations/A&R Zone) and panels for new music, like the The Big Apple Awards and T-Break Stage for T in the Park. All whilst lecturing, spinning all the hats at one time!
Throughout all her time, Yvonne has fought for and championed women and the working classes in gaining opportunities in the creative industries and in life in general through political activism, and in her work in Scottish politics for several years. She is also a huge advocate for animal rights and working towards policy changes in improving the lives for people and planet.
Starting life as a humble Flugelhorn player in my school band at Greenwood Academy, to the local competing band, Irvine and Dreghorn Brass, Yvonne never thought that one day she would end up going full circle in working at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Her role in all things marketing, communications and technology whilst helping in some way in increasing the representation of people from backgrounds like hers into the creative industries is a real privilege.
Did someone say crafting? After all this, Yvonne loves printmaking, growing things, spending time with her dog and walking on beaches and in parks around the country.