UNIVERSITY NEWS LAST UPDATED : 19 FEBRUARY 2014
Birmingham singer-songwriter Laura Mvula, nominated for two Brit Awards this week, is to be honoured at a Birmingham City University graduation ceremony in March.
Originally hailing from the south Birmingham suburbs, Laura graduated in 2008 from Birmingham Conservatoire, part of Birmingham City University, with a degree in Composition and is being honoured on Wednesday 5 March as one of the University's Alumni of the Year in the 'Excellence in Sport or the Arts' category.
Laura's talents as a rising star saw her debut album 'Sing to the Moon' reach the UK's top 10 in 2013, as well as winning two MOBO Awards in the same year – Best Female Act and Best R&B/Soul Act.
2013 also saw Laura supporting Paloma Faith on tour, wowing audiences at the 2013 Glastonbury Festival and her album - acclaimed by the Sunday Times Culture as "a masterpiece" – was shortlisted for the 2013 Barclaycard Mercury Music Prize.
More recently, Laura opened the 2014 EE British Academy Film Awards in a duet with multi-platinum-selling artist Tinie Tempah.
The 2014 Brit Awards ceremony airs on ITV from 8pm on Wednesday 19 February, with Laura Mvula nominated in the categories of British Female Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act.