Hailing from the city of Baltimore, Maryland, Katrice Cornett had music engraved in her soul at a very early age. Under the direction of her father, the late Donald W.T. Cary she was exposed to her first professional performance at the age of four when she sang “Oh Happy Day” by Edwin Hawkins to a standing room only audience.
As her father began to cultivate the gift that rested in her vocal ability, Katrice began to get more comfortable ministering to the needs of people through her music. During her teenage years she experienced major changes in her family structure, academics and spiritual life, which contributed to the family migrating to West Deptford, New Jersey where she became more dedicated to the music ministry.
After receiving such a strong foundation from her father, Katrice embarked upon one of the greatest challenges and formed her own gospel group called Katrice Cornett & Highest Praise (referred to as HP).
The group quickly became South Jersey's premier musical talent and began securing bookings throughout the east coast as south as North Carolina to the deep north of Connecticut. In 2006, Katrice released HP's first project recorded live entitled “Brand New Day Live."
Katrice has hosted workshops and shared the stage with multiple artists including Vanessa Bell Armstong, Peyton Bailey, Pastor Charles Jenkins but not limited to the late Timothy Wright, Donald Lawrence, Stephen Hurd, Donald Malloy, Milton Bingham and others. She has received acclaims for outstanding vocalist and voice coach from numerous ministries, pastors and artists for her musical style and dedication.
However, after vigorously promoting her new project and working on other projects, events and singles over the years, Katrice decided to step out on faith and open up the HP Performing Arts Center in Atco, New Jersey in 2011. She used the teachings from her father to pay it forward to others in need of vocal training and theatrical production. During her hiatus from the music industry Katrice's son, Jermaine Jones, became a top 10 finalist on Season 11 of American Idol. Such an honor immediately catapulted her back into the music industry as she represented Jones in all his booking engagements and business decisions.
After getting reacquainted with the music industry Katrice believes she has re-establish herself in the Gospel music industry and is making dynamic and bold moves that will bridge the gap between the churched and the un-churched. With her new project “Ordained”, released on September 5, 2015, she is more determined than ever to reach the masses with her voice but more importantly, her testimony.
Katrice’s faith in God and her strong belief in the Word have kept her focused and determined to share Christ with the world through her music. Katrice believes that only what you do for Christ will last. She live s her life in accordance to Colossians 3:23-24"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from
the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
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Night of Worship Concert at Transformation Church in Mays Landing
Saturday, July 29, 7-9 p.m.
Transformation Church
2nd Street and Rt. 50
Mays Landing, NJ
Our Night of Worship concert series returns with Gospel artist Katrice Cornett and worship leader Jesse Schulz. All are welcome as we will be lifting His name higher than before! The concert is FREE, a love offering will be taken for the artists.
http://katricecornettministries.org/index.html
https://jesseschulz.bandcamp.com/releases
Lady Katrice, who is still very much in joyful wedded celebration, had this to say: 'We did it, yet a second time (laughs) - I am so grateful to God for giving me another chance. My wedding was just like a dream."
In attendance at the Wedding were Katrice's Mother Mrs. Cary, and Katrice's 3 famous ad beloved sisters, who along with her form The CARY SISTERS. The flawless and highly soulful Gospel Group even had a chance to shine once together again and performed 'Looking Out For Me', an original song written by Katrice for The CARY SISTERS latest album project 'Amazing Love' [re. September 2014].
Sr. John Cornett, who may well be one of the most blessed men on the planet surely due to his new amazing bride, has this to impart to all the wise and un-wed: "God has blessed us with a fresh love, built to last."
"During her music industry hiatus, Katrice's son, Jermaine Jones, became a top 10 finalist on Season 11 of American Idol. Such an honor immediately catapulted her back into the music industry as she represented Jones in all his booking engagements."
Magnificent Gospel Singer Katrice Cornett speaks in a highly vivacious, cheerful, and contagiously happy mood as she comments on the cold weather, outside.
"This reminds me very much of the time when we, as a group, were invited to sing at a wonderful Cultural Arts Festival in Trenton, New Jersey. We were asked to perform out in the open winter weather, it was frigid much like today; (laughingly) the concert went on very strong, but my voice was very much affected by the cold. I was unable to sing, for well over a month. After having two previous surgeries to have vocal nodules removed, I had to trust God through my doctor. Needless to say He is a mighty healer and seven years later my voice is stronger than ever".
She is the 'American Idol Mom' of unforgettably talented 6'8 1/2" deep golden voiced: Jermaine 'Gentile Giant' Jones. Disqualified publicly and dropped from the 2012 season of the show.
“We were both singing long before the show came over here from England. We were confident, seasoned and well prepared to perform before any size audience.” As she ponders for a moment she further recalls “the representatives of the show simply had not a care or concern what so ever, as to the pain or consequences of their public actions on Jermaine, nor on myself as his mother. I along with countless others, thought he was going to bring it home that year. He was simply not given the chance. We didn’t let that stop us. We proceed always with dignity and respect in all we do, for we are of God’s Kingdom, and we represent His Glory, and not our own."
She is so passionate and true in the way she alone speaks, it's enough to bring forth an unforced surge of emotion.
“In lieu of it all… (she laughs again) music has always been a part of my life. Vocally, my wonderful dad, the late Donald W.T. Cary (vocal instructor and mentor) taught me just about everything I know, musically. I was always encouraged to listen to every kind of good music, which has allowed me to develop my own unique style... My parents, who are both musicians and educators, saw me through College (Delaware State College, at the time, now Delaware State University) and made me learn to read music, write songs, play the piano, cello, viola, but 'not' the clarinet, I never got the swing of the clarinet (she laughs again). I am originally from Baltimore but God's music brought me to New York City many times, Philadelphia, many parts of Delaware and Maryland, Charlotte North Carolina, Connecticut and so on. I am now comfortably living in Pine Hill, New Jersey and am determined to continue moving forward with the calling that God has placed on my life. Praise the Lord."
It is so wonderful to hear these words spoken with such a gentile and delicate manner from a voice indeed capable of belting vocal power beyond most everyone else's preparedness. Listen to her sing solo, and you will hear and feel what rich power of Gospel. Hear her sing, matched to vocal perfection with her 9 group members of HIGHEST PRAISE to thus hear cascading harmonies strong enough to shake the waters, rafters, and ceiling on the arena. Full voiced Gospel harmonies beyond definition, power that captures and enraptures the listener through the Holy Spirit, and brings Soul to Divine Music.
"'Katrice Cornett & Highest Praise' came to be because our group title needed an additional name to fill the bill, my name was unusual enough to really stand out, so that is how it came to be. As a result of making myself available to do what God called me to do, I was led to experiences and witnessed blessings well beyond my original expectations. God always uses His people to do what He wants and there are no exceptions. Jesus is always on call, and when you realize that, the more you are justly elevated by Him. With my current group "Highest Praise", we have been singing for 14 years together, yes, we've been performing every year since 2002. I realize I was made to sing since the age of 4 and I have always had a passion and I knew I was one who simply had to sing. I never asked for this, though I love to sing very much, but I realistically never intended to be a singer. I do teach artists of all ages how to develop their skills beyond their musical ability. Through HP Visual Connections I furnish Artists with valuable missing pieces in their career plan. Those who are highly creative in nature do sometimes overlook these important elements; perhaps in life they got distracted and simply went uneducated of these incredibly significant lessons. Many Artists miss out on having their desired long term careers simply because of poor financial planning, or no planning at all; often many of the pitfalls that occur over time can prove devastating, if ignored. If they didn't at first become successful, stable, or self-sufficient by a certain age, many of their first instincts, are to give up. I gather them, sit them down, and offer the best alternatives to giving up. I show them ways to promote and market their music in the Industry, through Independent Artist Development, a to-do-list as well as not-to-do-list, basic vocabulary terminology of terms to steer in opportunity, and all basic preparation needed. Careers get started off in the right direction this way."
Ms. Katrice Cornet, indeed in great demand these days, having just finished taping the TV Show called 'One Smart Lady' (a motivational and highly inspirational talk session hosted by published Christian Authors). She opened the show and received greatly positive Musical reviews. She is the Administrator of “Driven for Ministry” the newest TV Show on the Light Media Network that is a platform for Independent Gospel/Christian Artist.
"Musically, I am a fan of Stephen Hurd, Kim Walker-Smith, Chris Tomlin, Jason Nelson, also many local Gospel groups here in New Jersey, who are absolutely phenomenal. Opening for them and working with them would be an opportunity I would greatly relish. I like involving myself in events that include the Community and especially Education. I just had a role in a gospel stage play, at Rowan University, which required me to sing and I also played the school teacher Ms. Riggs. When it comes to booking my shows, I go anywhere I am called and needed. No stage is too big or too small, and as far as I am concerned everyone has the right to hear the Word of God. Since it is my calling, 'price' should never be a determining factor."
Katrice Cornett's new music will be next available in August of 2015, when she is due to release her Sophomore Gospel Album, ”Ordained”. As of now, she has released 1 album and 3 singles.
Ms. Cornett, is indeed an American Treasure for all to celebrate, support, and cherish. We so much look forward to hearing her great music in the many years to come.
J-Zak, reporting from New York.
“Abba Father” is the recently released single by soulful singer Katrice Cornett. While some may know the Jersey-based gospel gal from her song “I Am Your Child”, she probably gained more prominence as the mother and manager of former “American Idol” contestant Jermaine Jones. The truth is, however, Cornett’s involvement with music began at a very young age.
Cornett elaborates: “I was introduced to music by my father, the late Donald W.T. Cary, who was an awesome musician as well. In my family music is in our DNA. At the age of four I experienced my first public performance by singing a lead to ‘Oh Happy Day’ by Walter Hawkins with our family gospel group. I cried through the whole performance but I made it through, and here I am today.”
Cornett recalls her “first project, Brand New Day 'Live', was released in January 2006.” A few years later she "released a single in 2010 named ‘I Am Your Child’ which was supposed to be the lead promotional song for my second project at the time. We had to put it on hold due to issues with the band, and I was going through a divorce, and life just happened.”
Perhaps another reason her music was temporarily set aside was because she took on the task of managing her son’s singing career. The most well-known event in her son’s career to date was his appearances on the show “American Idol”. No fan of reality TV in general, your often opinionated penman probed Cornett regarding her personal feelings about reality TV in general and her son’s involvement.
Cornett was surprisingly candid: “I think that reality TV is not reality. I really don't watch it much because I'm sort of a private person, or at least I was until my son Jermaine Jones made it on to ‘American Idol’ Season 12.”
William Phoenix | LA Music Examiner
Gospel Superstar Is Back With a New Hit Single, “Abba Father”
PINE HILL, NJ – After years of managing the career of her son Jermaine Jones, gospel singing sensation, Katrice Cornett is finally focusing back on her own career. Katrice’s music was put on hold when her son, and client, was disqualified from American Idol in 2012 for unresolved legal issues. Katrice and Jermaine found themselves in a tabloid frenzy that lasted for months.
The American Idol fiasco is finally behind her now and Katrice is celebrating what God has brought her through with her new video single release, “Abba Father”. The song tells about the ups and downs of trusting in God even when times are tough, which is something that Katrice understands all too well.
Katrice has always maintained a large fan base, most of which was gained through her work as a music director for other Gospel greats like Stephen Hurd and Timothy Wright. Cornett’s fans have been buzzing about the new single and there are also talks of a upcoming album release. When asked for her thoughts on the excitement from “Abba Father”, Katrice Cornett had this to say, “I am so blessed to have the greatest fans in the world. The response to this song has been incredible and I want to thank everybody who has stuck by me and helped me keep the Faith. To God be the glory!”
Katrice is currently gearing up for her winter tour. To learn more about Katrice Cornett visit www.katricecornettministries.org