Kevin Turner is a native of Peoria, Illinois and a 25-year veteran of American Gospel Music, working with some of the finest choirs, artists and institutions of music in the U.S.A. Turner serves as Instructor of Music at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Department of Music and is the founding Director of the UAB Gospel Choir. Turner assists with Music Department and Christian Education duties at First Baptist Church. In addition, he is Director of Early Morning Worship & Interim Director of the Progressive Choir at the historic 5000-member Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, both in Birmingham. Turner serves as faculty advisor for the Kappa Chi Chapter of Iota International Music Fraternity for Women. Dr. Turner is a Sinfonian and an alumni member of the Pi Theta Chapter of Phi Mu Alpha. He is a sought after gospel music workshop clinician & speaker, gifted vocalist and known for his veteran ability at the Hammond Organ.

To his credit are the following:

1. 2001 Greg Ingalls/UAB Alumni Award Recipient for Excellence in Teaching (2nd Place)
2. Honored Faculty designation from the UAB School of Arts & Humanities for Distinguished Contributions to Scholarship and Creative Activities in 2000
3. 2003 Outstanding Faculty Member by the Delta Theta Chapter of Gamma Sigma Alpha National Greek Academic Honor Society.
4. 2005 UAB/NAACP Image Award (outstanding faculty)
5. 2006 Commendations from U.S. President George W. Bush, Alabama Governor Bob Riley, Birmingham Mayor Bernard Kincaid, the Jefferson County Commission and Arts & Humanities Dean Bert Brouwer commemorating 10th Year anniversary
6. 2007 Exceptional Service Award in Music & Performing Arts from the Stillman College Alumni Association
7. 2007 Inducted into the "Who's Who in Black Birmingham" National archive
8. 2007 Alabama Peoples Choice Award (college choir of the year)
9. 2007 Feature story in Southern Living Magazine (December issue)

The Music Educators National Conference features, Never Lose Its Power, an original composition by Kevin Turner in their publication and accompanying compact disc entitled, MAKING CONNECTIONS: Multicultral Music and the National Standards. Dr. Turner has lectured on Gospel Music, presented papers and given workshops at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for the German delegation of Friendship Force International, for the Covenant Churches Conference '98 at Northwestern University and Angelo State University. He served as music & workshop clinician for Purdue University in 2003 and has recruited and mentored a student from Switzerland.

As an artist, he has performed with the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, recorded, composed and co-produced several songs featured on the UAB Gospel Choir "LIVE" & "Lessons for Life" CDs. His jingle ABM 6-8 I Like It, for UPN TV, received regional CLIO and EMMY Award nominations. On a regular basis, Turner's music has charted in the U.S., Canada and Finland. Under the tutelage and direction of Kevin Turner, The UAB Gospel Choir has performed with Stevie Wonder, Ruben Studdard, Lee Greenwood, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, the Reverend Daryl Coley, and was featured at the Inaugural Ceremonies of Alabama Governor Don Siegelman. In addition, Turner and the UAB Gospel Choir served as opening act for gospel sensations Kirk Franklin & Fred Hammond's TOUR OF LIFE, for Karen Clark-Sheard & Dottie Peoples, and is featured at the City Stages Music Festival and other music festivals annually. Recently Turner accompanied Richard Smallwood in concert in Birmingham, Alabama and performed as a lead vocalist at the "GospelCentric Goes Classical" event featuring Dorinda Clark Cole, Byron Cage and Tramaine Hawkins. To his credit, many of Turner's students have won local and national talent competitions. He also tours the Midwest regularly with the UAB Gospel Choir, usually with 2-3 busloads of student performers. Look for the release of the UAB Gospel Choir's third CD in 2008. Most recently Turner was commissioned to compose and perform jingles for MY-68 TV and the Alys Robinson Stephens Performing Arts Center.

Kevin Turner has served on the UAB Kirklin Clinic Voice Treatment Center Advisory Board for several years, and as a committee member for the UAB Presidential Awards. He also serves on the scholarship committee of the Ruben Studdard foundation and is a board member of the Alabama Gospel Music Cultural Arts Center. Turner semi-annually co-teaches a course on world music at UAB. Turner holds credentials with PFC & INRA, has life long ties with the music departments within the P.A.W., C.O.G.I.C. and other institutions. Turner graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Theology (Andersonville Theological Seminary) and holds a honoris causa Doctorate in Divinity degree (Saint Thomas Christian College).

Contact Information:
Office Phone: (205) 934-6155
Email:kturner@uab.edu
UAB Gospel Choir