Kendra Akunvabey

I have been a part of school and church choirs since my early childhood. In my junior high and high school years, I was a part of the adult choir at First Assembly of God in Crockett, Texas (which sang a mix of Contemporary Christian worship songs and Southern Gospel songs) and leader of my church youth group band, in which I sang lead and led rehearsals.

In college, I majored in Business and minored in Music, specifically Vocal Performance. I attended Evangel University, Jarvis Christian University (formerly known as Jarvis Christian College) and Sam Houston State University. For most of my years during undergraduate college, I typically joined extra curricular Gospel choirs and worship teams in addition to being apart of the University Chorus and maintaining my other music lessons, general courses, and part-time jobs. At Evangel University, I was a part of the University Chorus, and was a part of two traveling extra-curricular bands as a soloist: "Oath" (Contemporary Christian Worship) and a Christian Rap & Hip-Hop group. At Jarvis Christian College I was a part of the University Chorale, which performed Classical, Negro Sprituals, and the Messiah Oratorio annually.  Additionally, I was the sole winner of the 2008 Apollo Nite, performing "Rescue" by Hillsong United. Since then, I was asked to occasionally sing solos for campus events such as at the 2010 Women in White Service. 

As a young adult, I have been a part of various church worship teams as a background alto voice. I was a member of the Divine Mercy Assembly of God in Houston, Tx for about two years (2018 - 2021) as well as a singer for Champion Life Centre Church in Spring, Texas for one year (2020-2021). Within a few months of joining each of those teams I was occasionally asked to lead vocal practice due to my preparation and harmony knowledge. In March 2020 I attended a service at Omege Fire Ministries and Houston, Texas and Pastor Rich Awahowa met me and asked me on the spot to be co-assistant to his choir director, Sis. Ronnie. This led me to consequently being asked by my choir friends at both Champion Life Centre and Omega Fire to give them private lessons.  I have 11 years of full-time and part-time English teaching experience (Denton Independent School District, Aldine Independent School District, Klein Independent School District, Emblaze Academy, Forte Prep, Kent Prep, Yeshiva Ketana) and roughly 2 years of private, virtual vocal teaching experience. I absolutely love boosting the confidence of a talented worship singer that has trouble with projecting or difficulty remembering wordy worship songs and doesn't want to have to look at the prompter.

I have experience with many Gospel and Christian praise and worship genres and subgenres. For U.S. genres, I am familiar with Hymns, Country/Bluegrass, Southern Gospel, Traditional Gospel, Black Gospel, Urban Contemporary, Contemporary Christian, and Alternative Christian Rock. I am additionally very familar with international subgenres and regional musics and styles, such as Nigerian, Ghanian, Kenyan, South African, Zimbabwean etc. 

Whatever your next assignment is, I'm the one who can help! Book me to get better at singing worship today!

TEACHING STYLE

I am very knowledgable of Christian, Gospel, and Christian Worship recording musicians and their discography, both current and from previous decades. I am very familiar with the variety of denomational and cultural worship service customs and the typical worship set and song structures and enjoy sprinkiling these tidbits throughout the lesson to enhance the student's understanding and therefore song delivery. However, I would say that attribute that is most impactful during my 1:1 lesson sessions is my approach as a vocal coach, as oppose to being a vocal lecturer, or director. My students set the goals, I encourage my students throughout the lesson and we celebrate milestones achieved. With my guidance, students notice growth in a very short amount of time.