18 - N'Kenge
b"N\\u2019Kenge\\u2019s an artist who\\u2019s destined to make a serious impact on several musical fronts. From operatic to spiritual, from pop to musical theater, from jazz to blues; tender or intense, N\\u2019Kenge\\u2019s performances are consistent in her technical excellence. Her musical repertoire covers 11 languages and her power and control are uncanny.\\n\\nThis Broadway Darling, was recently seen on TV this year as a presenter at the 58th Annual NY Emmy Awards. NY Post called her \\u201cElectrifying\\u201d in the role of Mary Wells that she originated in Broadway's Smash Hit Motown: The Musical. N'Kenge made her Broadway debut in Sondheim on Sondheim singing alongside Vanessa Williams, Barbara Cook, Tom Wopat and Norm Lewis. Anyone who has witnessed a performance by singer N\\u2019Kenge is not only amazed by the incredible power and range of her voice, they are often surprised at the sheer range of credits and accolades she has accumulated in a very short time. These include the White House where she sang for President Bill Clinton and for the Commander-in-Chief Ball for President Obama, London\\u2019s West End at the Theatre Royal in a tribute to the late great Ray Charles, solo engagements in New York at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center, even a worldwide broadcast by NPR from the Library of Congress in Washington, DC highlight the extent to which her star has risen.\\n\\nN\\u2019Kenge\\u2019s interest in music began at the tender age of three after her mother enrolled her daughter for dance and piano classes as a means of channeling her daughter\\u2019s unusual energy. This decision paid off with recitals and a piano scholar- ship by age six.\\nHowever, when N\\u2019Kenge discovered that she possessed a singing voice this startlingly mature youngster began devot- ing herself to its full time development. Her supportive mother taught her many popular songs including the Whitney Houston catalogue of classic ballads in its entirety, and she fondly remembers attending her great grandmothers church in the south whom she credits for her ability to sing Gospel as the result of listening and learning from those amazing southern church singers.\\n\\nVia a family connection Motown Records offered N\\u2019Kenge a recording contract while still in her teens and encouraged her to move to California. But her mother, Annette Hoffman, born in Georgia and a strong believer in the power of education decided that her daughter\\u2019s future would be better served at school, at home in New York. So N\\u2019Kenge continued her studies at the H.S. School of Performing Arts, Manhattan School of Music and the Julliard School winning kudos for her voice and beauty.\\n\\nAt 17 she won the Lena Horne Singing Competition Scholarship, the ASCAP Leiber and Stoller Award and the Leon- tyne Price Vocal Competition. N\\u2019Kenge was crowned Miss Manhattan in the Miss America Pageant which led to appearances on television. These include Good Morning America which led to a chance to perform the National Anthem for \\u201cThe Mets\\u201d at Shea Stadium. She spent her summers performing at Music Festivals in Europe, Israel, and the Czech Republic and it is therefore no surprise that she can sing fluently in eleven different languages!\\n\\nColumbia Artist\\u2019s recognized her notable vocal talents and through their auspices has given over 100 solo concerts throughout the United States. While still completing her schooling N\\u2019Kenge recorded her first solo CD \\u201cRed Souve- nir\\u201d and continues to present her own program for students with lesser opportunity in schools throughout the coun- try. This young and energetic singer was recently nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress for her portrayal of the leading roles in both the Elton John/Tim Rice Musical \\u201cAida\\u201d and in Marion Caffey\\u2019s \\u201c3 Mo Diva\\u2019s\\u201d by the Helen Hayes Awards and the Arizoni Theater Awards. N\\u2019Kenge is a frequent soloist in pop programs with the Indianapolis Sym- phony, Baltimore Pops Symphony, New York Pops Orchestra among others.\\n\\nMore at www.nkengemusic.com\\n@divankenge\\n\\n--- \\n\\nSend in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/confessionsofanactress/message"