Ekep Nkwelle Debut Album Fundraiser
Donation protected
Hi everyone!
My name is Ekep Nkwelle, a 24-year-old, Cameroonian-American, jazz vocalist from Washington, DC now living in New York City. I am excited to announce that I am fundraising in anticipation of my record date in August and the release of my debut album in the first trimester of 2024! Some of the expenses I will incur with this album are studio time, mixing, mastering, cover design, etc. With this album, I plan to unveil my sound to the world and make my strides into jazz history. Having very few female, West African, jazz musicians to look up to, there is no better time than now to begin inspiring women and West African creatives to work hard, persevere, and believe in themselves.
To share a bit of my journey, since discovering my musical gift at a young age, I have trained at the world-renowned institutes of Duke Ellington High School of the Arts, Howard University (BA) and The Juilliard School (MM). During my time at Howard, I trained with master jazz pianist, Cyrus Chestnut, who helped me utilize the blues as an essential language for story-telling. I would later perform and record with him. I am also fondly recognized for my role in Howard University’s premier vocal jazz ensemble, Afro Blue, where I was the lead soloist for my four years.
My collaborations continued after moving from the nation’s capital to “The Big Apple.” I have worked with artists such as world-renowned classical pianist, Lang Lang, jazz masters Russell Malone and Peter Washington, vibrant jazz bassist, Endea Owens, The Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra, and many more. I have even graced the stages of The Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall, Blues Alley, Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Lincoln Center’s David Rubinstein Atrium, and The Strathmore to name a few. Furthermore, I have also been apart of several jazz festivals and events including International Jazz Day, Hudson Jazz Festival, Jazz on the Narrows (opening for Cecile McLorin Salvant), DC Jazz Fest (opening for Regina Carter), and look forward to featuring on Endea Owens and The Cookout’s set at Newport Jazz Festival!
Some achievements include being one of the 15 students inducted into the highly selective 2023 Juilliard Career Advancement Fellowship. This award was bestowed upon me through nomination by my department directors: jazz master trumpeter, Wynton Marsalis and Dr. Aaron Flagg. Additional achievements include performing on NPR’s “Tiny Desk” singing my arrangement of the late, great pianist Geri Allen’s “Timeless Portraits & Dreams” in 2022. In this same year, out of 300 contestants from 27 countries, I placed First Runner-Up in The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Voice Competition. I have also worked with 3x GRAMMY and Tony award-winner, Dee Dee Bridgewater, in year four of The Woodshed Network residency.
I hope to be apart of the promising future of jazz, and with my artistry, I strive to display my passion for Black music, history and culture to people all over the world. Nevertheless, I can’t achieve my goals without my God-given community. I need your love, well-wishes, and support, and the best ways to support me right now are through financial donation and looking out for my Album Pre-Release Concert to be performed in my hometown, DC!
If you need some convincing, check out the YouTube video in the box above. You won’t be disappointed! ❤️ 
My name is Ekep Nkwelle, a 24-year-old, Cameroonian-American, jazz vocalist from Washington, DC now living in New York City. I am excited to announce that I am fundraising in anticipation of my record date in August and the release of my debut album in the first trimester of 2024! Some of the expenses I will incur with this album are studio time, mixing, mastering, cover design, etc. With this album, I plan to unveil my sound to the world and make my strides into jazz history. Having very few female, West African, jazz musicians to look up to, there is no better time than now to begin inspiring women and West African creatives to work hard, persevere, and believe in themselves.
To share a bit of my journey, since discovering my musical gift at a young age, I have trained at the world-renowned institutes of Duke Ellington High School of the Arts, Howard University (BA) and The Juilliard School (MM). During my time at Howard, I trained with master jazz pianist, Cyrus Chestnut, who helped me utilize the blues as an essential language for story-telling. I would later perform and record with him. I am also fondly recognized for my role in Howard University’s premier vocal jazz ensemble, Afro Blue, where I was the lead soloist for my four years.
My collaborations continued after moving from the nation’s capital to “The Big Apple.” I have worked with artists such as world-renowned classical pianist, Lang Lang, jazz masters Russell Malone and Peter Washington, vibrant jazz bassist, Endea Owens, The Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra, and many more. I have even graced the stages of The Kennedy Center, Radio City Music Hall, Blues Alley, Dizzy’s Jazz Club, Lincoln Center’s David Rubinstein Atrium, and The Strathmore to name a few. Furthermore, I have also been apart of several jazz festivals and events including International Jazz Day, Hudson Jazz Festival, Jazz on the Narrows (opening for Cecile McLorin Salvant), DC Jazz Fest (opening for Regina Carter), and look forward to featuring on Endea Owens and The Cookout’s set at Newport Jazz Festival!
Some achievements include being one of the 15 students inducted into the highly selective 2023 Juilliard Career Advancement Fellowship. This award was bestowed upon me through nomination by my department directors: jazz master trumpeter, Wynton Marsalis and Dr. Aaron Flagg. Additional achievements include performing on NPR’s “Tiny Desk” singing my arrangement of the late, great pianist Geri Allen’s “Timeless Portraits & Dreams” in 2022. In this same year, out of 300 contestants from 27 countries, I placed First Runner-Up in The Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Voice Competition. I have also worked with 3x GRAMMY and Tony award-winner, Dee Dee Bridgewater, in year four of The Woodshed Network residency.
I hope to be apart of the promising future of jazz, and with my artistry, I strive to display my passion for Black music, history and culture to people all over the world. Nevertheless, I can’t achieve my goals without my God-given community. I need your love, well-wishes, and support, and the best ways to support me right now are through financial donation and looking out for my Album Pre-Release Concert to be performed in my hometown, DC!
If you need some convincing, check out the YouTube video in the box above. You won’t be disappointed! ❤️ 
Fundraising team: Team fundraiser (2)
Ekep Nkwelle
Organizer
New York, NY
Maru Etta-Nkwelle
Team member