Bio – N’KENGE

Emmy & Grammy-nominated and International Award-winning Songstress N’Kenge (pronounced “nuh-KEN-JEE”) has been heralded by the New York Times as “a classically trained diva that can stretch from Broadway to Pop, Soul and Opera.” Trained at both The Juilliard School and Manhattan School of Music, N’Kenge’s vocal and musical range spans five octaves and 11 languages.

N’Kenge made her Broadway debut in Sondheim on Sondheim and slayed the game on Broadway originating the role of Mary Wells in Motown: The Musical, which garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. Motown Founder Berry Gordy described N’Kenge as “the most versatile artist I know.” The NY Post called her performance of Mary Wells “ELECTRIFYING.” 

As a vocal soloist, N’Kenge has performed at world-renowned performance venues, such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall and Madison Square Garden. She has headlined Pop and Opera concerts with Seattle Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Cincinnati Symphony, Columbus Symphony Orchestra and Cleveland Orchestra, to name a few. 

N’Kenge has sung for Presidents and Dignitaries around the globe, including for President Clinton and for President Obama’s historical Commander-in-Chief Inaugural Ball. 

Showing her versatility and range, N’Kenge has performed with jazz greats like Ornette Coleman and Wynton Marsalis. She also played the lead role of the Elton John/Tim Rice musical, Aida, and in Marion Caffey’s 3 Mo’ Divas. Both roles won the singer her nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical by the Helen Hayes Awards and the Arizoni Theater Awards. On the opera stage, N’Kenge has been the principal artist at New York City Opera, Opera Estate in Italy and toured throughout the Czech Republic as Susanna in Le Nozze Di Figaro

Most recently, N’Kenge was a cast member on Broadway in the revival of the Tony Award-nominated and Olivier Award-winning musical Caroline, or Change. She played the role of “The Moon,” which was her first aerial role. The show ran from October 27, 2021 through Jan. 9, 2022 at the legendary Studio 54.

N’Kenge’s upcoming projects include the starring role of “Jazz” in the Broadway-bound musical DANGEROUS, written by John Introcaso and Michael Colby. She is also the Conceiver, Executive Producer and Star of DANDRIDGE the Musical, also heading to Broadway and coming to Carnegie Hall in July 2022, which is about the life and legacy of Dorothy Dandridge. N’Kenge is the writer and creator of Forever Summer – a Tribute to Donna Summer that she will perform at Carnegie Hall. In addition, N’Kenge is developing a new TV musical series, BLACK BUTTERFLY, that she created as well as co-wrote with award-winning writer Mary McCallum. N’Kenge is also thrilled to team up with TV producer Gina Goff on the series.