James Kevin Gray

 

 

James Kevin Gray is a native South Carolinian, born in Westminster in 1976. He is a graduate of Winthrop University, where he studied under the tutelage of Dr. Robert Edgerton. Kevin has taught as a chorus teacher on the middle, junior and senior highschool level as well as on the collegiate level as the director of the Winthrop University Jazz Voices.

Kevin is a published composer, having works published by Oxford University Press and Paraclete press. In 1997 while still a student Kevin was given the honor of writing music for the international Robert Frost Conference. He has also had pieces performed at the famed Piccolo Spoleto music festival of Charleston, SC in 2007, 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2015.

Kevin was initiated into the Nu Kappa Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha, Sinfonia at Winthrop University in 1995.While a collegiate member he served as president, and as an alumnus Kevin served as Province Governor of Province 30 from 2005-2008. In November of 2010 he had the honor of being the first clinician to lead music for the fraternities first Northeast Fireside Conference in Delaware, as well as being named director for Phi Mu Alpha’s National Leadership Institute Conference in 2011.In March of 2012, Kevin had he opportunity to have his dance suite for chamber orchestra “Masque of the Red Death” choreographed and performed for the Winthrop University Medal of Honors in the Arts Award Ceremony honoring such guest as the famed musician Charles Wadsworth, as well as the N.C. Dance Theatre.

Also, Kevin is a passionate collaborator having founded the Power of Song Collaborative arts Movement in 2015 and has worked with multiple choirs and solo artist throughout the city of Charlotte.  Through the Power of Song Kevin has worked with over twelve of the cities ensembles and artist providing free music while raising money for various charities.He has also worked along side several of Charlotte's most vibrant artist in planning the MLK celebration sponsored by Opera Carolina and hosted at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. In the spring of 2018 Kevin was appointed  liaison to city choirs for Opera Carolina's Sunday Best Project. This intuitive included nine of the cities

sacred choirs.

 

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Here is a quote from Kevin about the Power of Song:

"The very essence of choral music calls individuals to come together forming a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. With the Power of Song we are expanding that vision to include bringing groups together to form communities. What you will experience at a Power of Song concert is that each ensemble brings a particular set of gifts, and when several of these choirs combine to sing a song, you get a spectrum of sound that would have never been possible with just one of the choirs. This whole movement is about music, and the power of human community; we embrace diversity and celebrate our similarities!"

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Kevin has served as director of the Charlotte Chorale from 2013-2016 as well as director of the Carolina Voices Big Sing Collaborative concert in 2017.

For his participation in the planning and musical presentations for the 2012 International Council of Community Churches National Conference he was named Laymen of the Year.  In 2016 Kevin was honored to lead the Metropolitan Music Ministries Directors choir for its annual Fall Service.

Kevin is presently the Minister of Worship and Music at St. John's Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC and resides in the nearby town of Rock Hill, SC with  his wife Alison and son Mason.