|
By David F. Dawes
AS PART of its late October Covenant Awards event in Calgary, the Gospel Music
Association of Canada (GMAC) presented its Cross Canada Talent Search. One of
the finalists was Kelowna performer Jennifer Jade Kerr.
She got her musical start in Saskatchewan, performing at open mic nights while
attending university. She recorded an album as part of a group called
Saltwater, and went on to play a wide variety of venues. Kerr’s solo debut album, Somehow it Always Does, was released in 2008 on the indie label Golden Flame Records. She currently serves in her church’s worship music ministry.
Kerr posted an enthusiastic blog about her GMAC experience, writing: “Ever since I knew there was a Canadian Christian music scene, I have loved it. I
have been a longtime fan of bands like Starfield, downhere . . . and
singer/songwriters like Riley Armstrong and Steve Larsen.”
Highlights for Kerr included a worship service led by Brian Doerksen; a Band
Bootcamp seminar; and songwriting seminars led by Carolyn Arends and Matt
Brouwer.
She “met so many lovely men and women, who are passionate, inspired and gifted to
spread God’s love through music. I felt so blessed to be in such awesome company.”
Kerr was one of six finalists. She did not win, but said she “got such great encouragement from the judges, other competitors and audience
members.”
All told, she wrote, “it was a very good week. I got to absorb so much wisdom, and so many good tunes,
even as people spoke so much love . . . into my life, and in response to my
performances. I was told that I have something very unique, that I am the ‘total package’ – and that, with a bit of tweaking, my songs are Christian radio singles.
Continue article >>
| 
