Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
N’KENGE’S CONCERT REVIEWS
David King’s Ray Charles Musical Tribute “The Genius of Ray Charles”
Simpson-Hoffman is something else: a classically trained opera singer who knows blues music. Even when not the soloist, she’s working every moment, never coasting. She’s young and slim and beautiful, and has a voice that could shatter wine glasses.
Sam Buaman, Nevada Appeal
Marion Caffey Directs 3 Mo'Divas in a World Premiere performance at the San Diego Repertory Theater:
"All three have octave-leaping-voices-the equivalent, in fact, of Cirque du Soleil's skywalkers. And for versatility, follow N'kenge Simpson-Hoffman. She ennobles Juiliet's Waltz by Gounod, then raises the roof with Cab Calloway's sing along, Minnie the Moocher. Later she shimmies through Beyonce's Crazy in Love. Same Person. Different stratospheres. "
-San Diego Weekly Reader
"Simpson-Hoffman, a petit fireball, is the show's all-around entertainer. She sings, she dances and she works the crowd. She's a delight in her audience-interactive Minnie The Moocher segment that closes ACT I, and she's all sass and shimmying flash as the sexy flapper Miss Celie (from the Color Purple). She has a sweet tone with coloratura touches."
Pam Kragen, North County Times
"Simpson-Hoffman, elegantly dressed, sublimely displayed range and power…glided through the requisite spectrum including Blues, Broadway, jazz, soul, spiritual and gospel. Simpson-Hoffman, the most physical of the group, gets an abundance of showy numbers, such as Fascinating Rhythm, and an audience-participation Minnie The Moocher."
-Don Braunagel, LA Times
Puccini’s La Boheme with the Virginia Opera and Maestro Dan Saunders as conductor:
“Soprano N’kenge Simpson-Hoffman's Musetta did not hide feelings as she moved from one man to another. Her flirtatious voice had seductive power, and she used it expertly in her first appearance.”
Lee Teply The Virginian Pilot
Handel´s Messiah with Billings Symphony and Maestro Uri Barnea as conductor:
"Soprano N´kenge Simpson-Hoffman joined the Billings Symphony and Chorale in a stirring performance of Handel´s Messiah that brought the capacity crowd to its feet. All four soloist performed flawlessly, although Simpson-Hoffman stole the show with her dazzling range.
- Billings Gazette
Worldwide Broadcast on NPR for the celebration of Aaron Copland´s Centennial:
"Soprano N´kenge Simpson-Hoffman lent soulful, lustrously sung to two of the "All American Songs.
- Joe Bano Washington Post
Solo Recital in Michigan under the auspices of Columbia Artists Community Concert Series:
"The heart of the program was a set of three pieces by the Russian Reyngold Gliere. It was with the Gliere that Simpson-Hoffman opened up and showed a dynamic range of expression and vocal warmth. The Rossini pieces displayed a voice flexibility, promising and with good edge. Although Simpson-Hoffman may aspire to the opera stage, her handling of the Gershwin material was exceptional."
- Bill Seeback The Muskegon Chronicle
Juilliard Opera Center´s production of Nino Rota´s Il Cappello di paglia di Firenze with Frank Corsaro as director and Randell Behr as conductor:
" From the point of view, the most effective performer in the Juilliard production were...soprano N´kenge Simpson-Hoffman as the seamstress, La Modista. Simpson seized the stage, giving an over-the-top performance.”
- Donald Westwood Opera News
Solo Recital in North Carolina under the auspices of Columbia Artists Community Concert Series:
"Her voice remained strong and in control throughout the evening. Miss Simpson-Hoffman struck each note in a style that seemed effortless and stirred conversation during intermission...It was more than a voice that was striking. Her stage presence was quite remarkable in look and showmanship."
Winkie Lee Goldsboro News-Argus
Solo Recital in Iowa under the auspices of Columbia Artists Community Concert Series:
"Saturday night we came out of the Fort Madison concert hall almost speechless, awe struck! How can that diminutive, young lady put out such music, such volume, such a range of notes? Her facial expression and body language added much to the performance also. Expect to see her name N'kenge Simpson-Hoffman, "in lights" in the future."
Audrey Donnelson Fort Madison Newspaper
New Jersey Symphony Orchestra Concert at New Brunswick´s State Theater with violinist Joshua Bell and Mariusz Smolij as conductor:
"During the Beethoven’s incidental music to Goethe´s drama "Egmont,"
the wonderful surprise of the evening was soprano N´kenge Simpson-Hoffman. She looks like the cute teen-aged kid next door and in reality cannot be any more than her early 20´s. She had but two short songs, but made such an impression that hers was the name heard in conversations as the audience filed out at concert´s end.
Simpson-Hoffman has a big bright voice t - Various
Discography
"Centerstage"-official release Fall 2007
"N'Kenge"Cafe Ingenue Disques 2006
"Red Souvenir" LBTV Music/WEA 2000
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
She’s Only Just Begun…N’Kenge’s interest in music began at the tender age of three when her mother enrolled her in dance and piano classes channel her daughter’s energy. This decision paid off with recitals and a piano scholarship by age six. When N’Kenge discovered that she possessed a powerful singing voice, this startlingly mature youngster devoted herself to its full time development. Her supportive mother taught her many popular songs, including the entire Whitney Houston catalogue of classic ballads. She fondly recalls attending her great grandmother’s church in the South, whose influence she credits for her ability to sing gospel by being immersed in the power and joy of amazing Southern church choirs.
While still in her teens, Motown offered N’Kenge a recording contract and encouraged her to move to California. Her mother, a strong believer in the power of education, decided that her daughter’s future would be best served in school, at home in New York. N’Kenge continued her studies at the High School of Performing Arts, Manhattan School of Music and The Juilliard School, winning many kudos for her voice.
Range and repertoire… N’Kenge’s repertoire is as vast as her talent. She excels in the classics from Handel’s Messiah to Puccini’s La Boheme. She has also mastered American classics as George Gershwin, Aaron Copeland, Cab Calloway and Ray Charles, as well as Broadway’s best in Aida, West Side Story, and Porgy and Bess. Her musical influences include Kathleen Battle, Maria Callas, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner and Aretha Franklin. N’Kenge’s personal style is a fusion of pop, R&B and Rock. She has been compared to Whitney Houston, Billie Holiday and Beyonce. Known for her versatility, she has mastered opera, Broadway, jazz, blues, soul, R&B, spirituals, and gospel. And she sings in 11 languages.
Honors and Accolades…N’Kenge has received numerous awards in recognition of her talent. Among them include being a two-time winner of the New York Artists Vocal Competition 2006 & 2007, ASCAP Lieber & Stoller Award, Lena Horne Vocal Competition and Leontyne Price Vocal Competition. In addition, she has been nominated for the 2007 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical (3 Mo’ Divas), Lead Actress in Elton John’s musical Aida, and Best New Artist by Talent in Motion magazine.
All the World’s a Stage…The world has become N’Kenge’s stage as she has grown into an international phenomenon. She has performed for President Clinton at the White House and a worldwide NPR broadcast from the Library of Congress to the Theatre Royal Haymarket on London’s West End, with stops in the Czech Republic, Germany, Israel and Spain. Back in the States, N’Kenge has performed from sea to shining sea including featured soloist with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. But there’s no place like home for N’Kenge, She has graced the stage at New York’s most famous venues, including Lincoln Center and Alice Tully Hall.
Ready for CenterStage…2007 promises to be even busier for N’Kenge, with upcoming concert performances with the Baltimore Symphony and Indianapolis Symphony, starring in the musical revue Ain’t Misbehavin’, upcoming concert dates for her newly-created one-woman show Last Diva Standing!, a feature article entitled “Opera Divas” in the spring issue of Uptown magazine. She is poised for super stardom with the debut of her new R&B/pop album, produced by Preston Glass and Tony Sheppard, with songwriters Michael Masser, Narada Michael Walden, Carole Bayer Sager, Lora Kvint, celebrated Russian composer, and featuring appearances by Ray Parker, Jr., Ray J and Grammy-nominated violinist Philippe Quint.
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