Violinist Kersten Stevens is one of the most electrifying, expressive, & contemporary new artists of our time! Being blessed with a unique gift as a soulful jazz, gospel and hip hop violinist, her magnificent talent has propelled her from a local star hailing from Stratford, Connecticut to a national buzzworthy artist! A recent graduate of the Yale University Class of 2006 with a B.A. in Music and African American Studies, Kerstens musical journey began with classical violin instruction at the age of three. She began studying and performing jazz, gospel and contemporary styles at age fourteen! Kersten has since been the opening act for the late Ray Charles, made a 2004 appearance for the National Boys and Girls Clubs at the request by Denzel Washington, appeared in 2005 as a featured soloist with Dionne Warwick and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, performed with world-renowned jazz violinist Regina Carter, has studied with violinist John Blake, Jr., and has twice taken Showtime At The Apollo by storm, winning competitions in 2003 and 1999! Kerstens stirring violin improvisational skills have received a number of awards and recognitions. She was crowned the Hal Jackson's Talented Teen Miss Connecticut 2000 and International 1st runner up and in 2002 was the Gold Medal winner of the NAACP Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics in the Music/Instrumental Contemporary category. Also in 2002, she received awards from the Greater Bridgeport Symphony Youth Orchestra for musical excellence and from Vivian Ayers-Allen and Phillicia Ayers-Allen Rischad for her musical accomplishments. Recently, she was awarded for artistic excellence by the Afro- American Cultural Center at Yale University. Kersten has completed two solo projects. The Beginning, released in 2002, features jazz classics like Duke Ellingtons In A Sentimental Mood and funk charts like Stevie Wonders Master Blaster. September 2005 celebrated the release of Kerstens highly anticipated sophomore gospel album entitled Walks Of Faith. A fusion of contemporary jazz and gospel, the project features such legendary musicians such as bassist Lonnie Plaxico and is complete with gospel standards The Lords Prayer, contemporaries like Shabach and spirituals like Sometimes I Feel Like A Motherless Child.