"Breathtaking pyrotechnics that burst with pure joy."
– All About Jazz
“I am so impressed by Kersten. She has a fantastic talent. each time is a discovery.”
– Christian McBride
"Imagine if the spirit of Marion Williams suddenly possessed jazz master Jean-Luc Ponty's violin, and you have some sense of what Kersten can do. She is a gift to music."
– The Black Gospel Blog
Kersten Stevens—Queen of the Violin—is a genre-defying artist and composer whose electrifying, luminous performances turn every stage into a sanctuary. A Yale alumna and six-time winner of Amateur Night and Showtime at The Apollo, she has shared the stage with Christian McBride, Faith Evans, Regina Carter, Kim Burrell, and Keyon Harrold. Her performances have moved icons like President Barack Obama, Dionne Warwick, Babyface, Usher, and Denzel Washington.
Kersten’s journey began at just three years old, when she first picked up the violin and quickly excelled in the Suzuki method. By ten, she was exploring gospel, and at twelve, she discovered jazz—unlocking a lifelong passion for improvisation, storytelling, and genre-bending expression. Her early talent was recognized with top honors from the NAACP ACT-SO Awards and the International Hal Jackson’s Talented Teen competition, paving the way for her history-making wins at the world-famous Apollo Theater. A graduate of Yale University with a dual focus in Music and African American Studies, she went on to study under the legendary jazz violinist John Blake, Jr., honing a sound that is technically masterful, spiritually rooted, and creatively boundless.
ORIGINS
NEW MUSIC
Kersten’s much-anticipated album, QUEEN RISING, is a bold declaration of voice, vision, and purpose. At its core is a magnetic collaboration with 9x GRAMMY-winning bassist Christian McBride, whose roles as co-producer, composer, and arranger elevate the project to new heights of creativity and soul. McBride performs on all eight tracks and co-wrote four original compositions with Kersten: “Queen Rising,” “Release the Grace,” “Beginnings and Endings,” and “You’ve Been Crowned.” The pair also reimagined three standout tracks—“Someday We’ll All Be Free,” “Fantasy,” and “Best Part”—with fresh perspective and emotional clarity.
The album features a star-studded ensemble of celebrated artists and engineers whose collective brilliance deepens every note:
Kersten Stevens – Violin, Co-Producer
Christian McBride – 9x GRAMMY-winning Bassist, Co-Producer
Todd Whitelock – 10x GRAMMY-winning Engineer
Eric Harland – GRAMMY-nominated Drummer
Luisito Quintero – GRAMMY-winning Percussionist
Ragan Whiteside – Billboard-charting Flutist
Miki Hayama – Piano, Keys, Hammond Organ, Wurlitzer
Seth Johnson – Guitar
QUEEN RISING is not just an album—it’s a reclamation of power, a celebration of joy, and a sonic offering rooted in Black brilliance, improvisation, and emotional truth.
“I am so impressed by Kersten. She has a fantastic talent. I watch her play the violin, and I am like, wow - each time is a discovery. This girl is bad. You need to listen to this album, and you need to listen quickly!"
– Christian McBride
HIGH NOTES
The Queen has moved audiences across the country and around the world—from concert halls and festivals to sanctuaries, vineyards, and village stages. Her sound—virtuosic, soulful, and spiritually resonant—has garnered acclaim from both legends and major outlets alike. She’s been featured in Vogue, WBGO, All About Jazz, and the Black Gospel Blog, and praised by greats like Christian McBride, Billy Kilson, and Regina Carter for her distinctive voice on the violin.
A six-time winner of Amateur Night and Showtime at The Apollo, Kersten is also a recipient of top honors from the NAACP ACT-SO Awards, the International Hal Jackson’s Talented Teen Competition, and was recognized for musical excellence by her alma mater, Yale University. She is a voting member of The Recording Academy.
Her recent single, “Faith’s Hymn (Amazing Grace Remix),” continues to resonate across platforms, following the critical success of INSPIRE ME, a collection of original and traditional gospel works that earned her the Independent Music Award for Christian/Gospel Album of the Year.
From Carnegie Hall to cultural festivals, masterclasses to meditation concerts, Kersten brings more than performance—she brings presence. Whether on stage, in studio, or in sacred spaces, her artistry invites listeners not just to hear, but to feel.
“You feel the funk in her playing. You feel the soul. You feel the gospel, the Latin. She has it all.”
– WBGO
IN HER OWN WORDS
I create to connect. Every note is a prayer, a story, a spark.
My mission is to move people—spiritually, emotionally, and culturally—through sound. Music is my ministry, my rebellion, and my gift. I’m here to testify, to liberate, and to leave the stage more whole than I found it.