Beleza Productions

Beleza Productions is a full service cultural arts and production company, established by producer/musician Sarah Cropper and musician/composer Arnold Khanu to create unique stage productions, radio documentary programming and programmes about music, written and produced by musicians.

SARAH CROPPER
Sarah Cropper is a freelance TV, Radio and Stage Producer and professional musician. Sarah was educated at St Peter's Collegiate School, Wolverhampton, then read Music at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford University, before graduating in 1993. She joined the BBC shortly after graduating, and then left to begin her freelance career in 1997. Since then, Sarah's innovative radio productions have included:

  •Neneh Cherry's World of Music (BBC Radio 2)
  •Courtney Pine's Jazz Crusade (BBC Radio 2)
  •Billie and Me: A Celebration of Billie Holiday (BBC Radio 2)
  •Guy Barker's World Cafe (BBC World Service)
  •Private Passions (BBC Radio 3)
  •Jazz on 3 (BBC Radio 3)
  •Jazz Lineup (BBC Radio 3)
  •The Dark Keys (BBC Radio 3)
  •Behind the Mask with Alison Moyet (Jazz FM)

Sarah's critically acclaimed production of the staged version of Billie and Me at the Barbican in 2004, starring Dee Dee Bridgewater, Neneh Cherry, Chrissie Hynde, Lalah Hathaway and others was nominated for the BBC Jazz Award for Innovation and toured the United States Autumn 2005 with Dianne Reeves, Nancy Wilson, Rita Coolidge, Joan Osborne, Rokia Traore and others headlining. The same year Sarah also produced the sellout charity event Lynden's Wish at London's Jazz Cafe featuring a long list of British celebrities including Ms. Dynamite, Beverly Knight and June Sarpong.

Sarah is currently in the process of writing her latest projects, as well as producing regularly for BBC Radio 3 and acting as Creative Consultant for Indus Television.

ARNOLD KHANU
After completing a postgraduate course in jazz at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama in 1996, Arnold has gone on to work as a Musical Director and keyboardist in the world of jazz, R&B, soul and reggae. In 2005 Arnold was Music Director for the sellout charity event Lynden's Wish at London's Jazz Café, featuring Ms Dynamite, Beverley Knight, Omar, Shola Ama, Andrew Roachford and a host of other celebrity stars. He was also Musical Director for US R&B artist Reggie Watts' UK Tour.

From 1998-2005 Arnold worked as a member of the MOBO Award-winning Artist Lynden David Hall's band touring internationally and supporting Janet Jackson's South African tour 1998. That band can be heard on the 2001 album 'Lynden David Hall Live'. Arnold has also worked with Eric Roberson (UK and Sweden), and 70's funk band The Blackbyrds. Arnold's jazz and reggae work includes UK saxophonist Bobby Wellins, Clifford Jarvis Quartet (John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard), Julie Dexter, Denys Baptiste, Janet Kaye, Carol Thompson, and recording with Sandra Cross. He also performed at The Royal Festival Hall with American conductor Scott Stroman and The London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Arnold is a tutor at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama Summer School.