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Press releases

Cornish College of the Arts Music Faculty, Johnaye Kendrick, wins big at the 67th-Annual Grammy Awards

Seattle, WA – February 3, 2025 – Cornish College of the Arts extends a heartfelt congratulations to esteemed music faculty member, Johnaye Kendrick, for her win at the 67th-Annual Grammy Awards. Kendrick, alongside groupmates Erin Bentlage, Sara Gazarek, and Amanda Taylor won Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals for their song “Alma” (by säje featuring Regina Carter). This award marks Kendrick’s fourth Grammy nomination and second win.

Kendrick has been a Professor of Music at Cornish since 2010. She teaches private lessons, vocal jazz ensemble, vocal jazz repertoire, arranging, and vocal technique. Her dedication to her practice and her love for music education makes her an invaluable member of the Cornish community. 

In a recent interview, Kendrick said, “One of the biggest lessons I share [with students] is to face challenges head-on. When I graduated, I made a list of everything that intimidated me or felt like a weakness and worked to improve those areas. Growth happens when you lean into discomfort.” We hope that Kendrick’s win serves as inspiration to all the young musicians and artists at Cornish and beyond. To read her full interview, please visit the Lenora St. Blog.

Cornish College of the Arts joins the city of Seattle in celebrating säje and Johnaye Kendrick’s outstanding achievement and looks forward to witnessing her continued success in the music industry.

 

Cornish College of the Arts is a nonprofit college in the heart of downtown Seattle, offering a range of undergraduate degrees in the fine arts, including music, theater, visual art, animation, game arts, dance, and design, among others. Its mission is to provide students aspiring to become practicing artists with an educational program of the highest possible quality, in an environment that nurtures creativity and intellectual curiosity, while preparing them to contribute to society as artists, citizens and innovators. For more information, visit Cornish College of the Arts

säje, featuring Los Angeles-based Sara Gazarek and Erin Bentlage and Seattle-situated Johnaye Kendrick and Amanda Taylor, is closer in spirit to collective instrumental ensembles than jazz vocal combos. Encompassing finely wrought originals, reimagined jazz standards and inventive interpretations of contemporary tunes by the likes of Björk, The Bad Plus, and YEBBA, säje exists in a space without sonic or genre boundaries, coaxing the vocal ensemble into new sonic territory. The group’s eponymous debut album is a striking achievement, from the shimmering harmonies of the GRAMMY®-nominated opening track “Desert Song” to the gorgeous closing medley of British singer/songwriter Michael Kiwanuka’s “Solid Ground” and Lennon and McCartney’s “Blackbird.” For more information about säje, please visit sajevoices.com

For more information about Johnaye Kendrick, please visit johnaye.com

 

Media Contact:
Justin Gonzales
Marketing Director
Cornish College of the Arts
communications@cornish.edu 

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