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Biographies of Harlem Gospel Singers and Musicians

Djore Nance - Choir Director: Djoré Nance is a multi-faceted performer of the highest order. He has performed throughout the globe in many genres. His operatic pursuits have taken him to Teatro Communale di Bologna, Landestheater Linz, and many other opera houses. Djoré performs many genres of music and he has shared the stage as an act and as a supporting musician with many artists of renown including Reneé Fleming, Eve Queler, Jonas Kaufmann, Celine Dion, Sarah Brightman, Wynona Judd, BeBe Winans, , , , and many others. Djoré is also a distinguished conductor and has held positions as a choral conductor at many institutions.

Cassondra Kellam - Soprano: Cassondra Kellam is currently a Ph.D candidate in Sociology at the Graduate Center (SUNY). In addition to her academic pursuits, Cassondra has sung with local and national artists including Mark Miller, , Kim Burrel, Christina Aguilera, Laura Izibor, , Wynton Marsalis, and Chrisette Michelle. Cassondra was featured with the Good News Community Choir at 2009 and 2010 Canticles concerts. She is a vocalist and performer of incredible range and talent. When she is not traveling, she performs , the blues, R&B, gospel, and classical music in venues around the New York metropolitan area.

LaToya Kennedy - Alto: “Powerful, mesmerizing, enlightening, soulful” are words used to describe the phenomenal sound of vocalist LaToya Kennedy. With one of the most unique voices New York City has known, Kennedy was born in Michigan. The granddaughter to pastors on both sides of the family, her music sensibility came principally through Sunday morning church. Outside of church Kennedy heard and was greatly influenced by all kinds of music. She moved to NYC in 2011 and until the beginning of 2014, Kennedy was the lead vocalist of the Rakiem Walker Project at Chef Marcus Samuelsson’s internationally known Red Rooster in Harlem, NY. She was featured as the opening performance for the Love Jones NYC tribute to Grammy Award, and for winner Fantasia Barrino. Kennedy has shared the stage with Grammy Award winning singer Chrisette Michelle, Broadway star Chester Gregory, R&B Diva Monifah, Kenny Latimer, Mark Kelly of , and gospel sensation Vashawn Mitchell.

Christopher Ifill - Tenor: Christopher James Ifill, affectionately known as “Chris or Bishop”, was born in Harlem, New York, and attended the Talent Unlimited High School in New York, NY. In his formative years, Christopher was a member of the United Pentecostal Assembly, under the pastorate of Bishop J. Strachan. He also attended The Brooklyn Tabernacle Community Bible Institute where he was mentored by the Late Bishop James F. Copeland. In September 1997, he joined the True Praise Christian Worship Center, Inc. (TPCWC), under the tutelage of Bishop Reginald Boyce, Sr., holding various positions within the ministry including the Men’s Ministry, the Praise and Worship team, the TPCWC Voices of Praise, and the Adjutants Ministry. In 2007, he was appointed an Elder in the TPCWC.

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Christopher has traveled extensively throughout Europe, ministering in song in Germany, France, Holland, Denmark, Spain, Italy, UK, and Austria. Formerly, he was a member of various local community choirs that ministered throughout the New York Tri-State area such as Gene Ray and Restoration, and Prof. Karl Jackson and Oneness in Praise. He is now a founding member and leading officer of Power of Praise, a newly formed group that ministers in song and provides opportunities for spiritual enrichment through worship services and Christ-centered social and educational activities.

Jeffrey White - Bass: Jay is a prodigy from New York City, with exceptional natural capability to inspire through his musical skills. Born into an artistic family, he took interest in the drums, beginning his musical journey at an early age. By 14, he began singing, playing other instruments and writing, honing his craft in church and family gatherings. Today, he teaches, performs and gives back to the community through his participation in various festivals, fundraisers and other charitable events. A refined singer/, musical performer and arranger, Jay has lent his abilities to artists such as , Michael McDonald, and Karen Clark-Sheard. He and his band are setting out on a nation tour in the UK.

Equipped with a genuine heart and propelling music, Jay reaches his audience through the sincere messages in his tunes. “If I can simply touch someone, just one person, this life is not in vain.” Jay released debut “Larger Than Life”, an intense jazz sound with a mixed blend of jazz and old school R&B. Jay continues to deliver these smooth vocals on his most recent EP, “Artistic Genetics”, prompted by musical trailblazers. In this collection, Jay has collaborated with legendary drummer Nathaniel Townsley III, acclaimed trumpeter Phillip Lassiter, singer/songwriter Yummy Bingham and his musical director . Promoting the idealism of universal love, Jay has joined the resonances of R&B, Country, and Gospel to continue the rich musical tapestry and to convey this timely message.

Ondrej Pivec- Keyboard: Ondrej started playing music at the age of 3 as a classical pianist, but soon turned to jazz and began to play the Hammond organ in his teens. In music college he formed a band called the Organic quartet, which soon became one of the most popular jazz band in the country. He has performed more than 2000 concerts to date, and has toured the world (at Symphony Space NYC, Bowery Ballroom NYC, Blues Alley in Washington DC, Sun- Set club Beijing China, Blue Note in Dresden Germany, among many other venues.) He has won the Music Academy Award twice, the Audience prize for best soloist at the Getxo International Jazz Festiva,l and the Outstanding Soloist award at the Philips International Jazz Festival. He currently lives, performs and records in New York City, and works as a minister of music at Antioch Baptist church in Harlem.

Adam Jackson – Drums: The product of a musically gifted family, Adam Jackson cut his teeth playing drums and singing at church. After graduating high school, he

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moved to New York City to attend The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music where he studied with Jazz greats Nasheet Waits, Billy Hart, Carl Allen, Ari Hoenig, Cecil Bridgewater, Billy Harper, and Buster Williams. A professional musician, Adam has had the pleasure of working with platinum recording group Destiny’s Child, Ciara, Grammy-nominated Emily King, Frank McComb, and on Tony award-winning musical Memphis. He is also proud to be working with Atlantic recording artist Laura Izibor, Conor Maynard, Grace Weber, Ezra Brown, Takuya Karoda, Dani Elliot, Orly, The Hipstones, Zack Borer Mary Gatchell, Cristina Taddanio, Curtis MacDonald, Jesse Fishers Soul Cycle, and Rachel Eckroth.

Ezra Brown – Saxophone: As a saxophonist, keyboardist, music director, and arranger, Ezra has collaborated with a broad spectrum of industry greats. Gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, soul, hip-hop – Ezra’s music speaks the language of the human experience with his saxophone serving as his translator. Ezra’s distinctive, soulful sound — a combination of southern comfort and urban grit that he calls “soul muzik” -- makes him much sought after among his contemporaries. He has worked with an impressive list of Grammy Award winning artists such as Cassandra Wilson, John Forte, Charlie Daniels, BB King, and Bobby "Blue" Bland. His works also includes Grammy nominated artists – , Les Nubians, Calvin Richardson, Gordon Chambers, and latin artist, CuCu Diamantes. Ezra has also performed at several international music festivals including the Nicaragua International Jazz Festival 2014; Kuala Lumpur International Jazz Festival 2013; JazzAcona Festival, Switzerland; Black World Arts Festival in Dakar, Senegal; Trans Musicales de Rennes Music Festival in Rennes, France; the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam; 2013 South Carolina Jazz Festival; Solidays in Paris, and many more. Ezra’s debut album “The Journey,” was released July 2013.

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