KatieJordan
kjordan@katiejordanmusic.com
That voice! From the very beginning that voice was recognized as being unique. When she sang her first “note” at birth, everyone in the labor & delivery room stopped in their tracks to listen to the curious and unusual cry. How could such a loud, low and “smoky” alto voice come from such a little baby? From the very first, there was little doubt that her voice was going to be special.
Born and raised in NW Ohio, Katie grew up in a Christian home where many types of music were always present. At the age of 8, she began singing publicly on stage. Her formative years were spent observing and helping her father as he served as Minister of Music at the family’s home church. Musical impressions were also cast by many hours listening to her father’s vocal group “Mirror Image.” Katie’s early exposure to musical performance and to a wide variety of musical styles has shaped her own musical versatility. As a result of her stylistic diversity, Katie’s music appeals to a wide range of ages and ethnic/demographic groups.
As a junior high student, Katie won 3 consecutive gold medals for vocal performance at her denomination’s regional talent contests (OH, KY, & WV). As a high school student, she repeated that feat again for three consecutive years. As a sophomore in high school, she was the lead singer for the 8th best amateur gospel group in the country (as rated by the Southern Gospel Music Association) and was rated the 10th best amateur soloist in a nationwide singing contest at the National Quartet Convention. As a junior in high school, she won the Miss Talented Teen Ohio contest and represented the state of Ohio in a national competition in the Virgin Islands where she was 2nd runner up among 50 contestants. As a senior in high school, Katie won the Fox Network Idol contest and an all expense paid, 4-day trip to the American Idol contest in Chicago Illinois.
As a college student, Katie toured throughout the United States and Europe with the renowned Indiana Wesleyan University Chorale. In August of 2007, her debut CD entitled, “Hope & Pray,” was released and has received strong airplay on Christian radio stations. In September of 2007, Katie began to tour with Soul Venture - Michelle Park (vocalist), Jeff Jordan (audio technician & vocalist), Tim Jordan (vocalist), and Pastor Thom Sneed (Ministerial support). This talented vocal group features a creative and unique blend of traditional gospel, contemporary Christian, southern gospel, with some modern country tossed in for spice. By using a variety of musical styles, shared lead vocals, and tight smooth harmonies, this dynamic team communicates the gospel in a powerful and effective way. Always positive and uplifting, Katie & Soul Venture never fail to connect with and spiritually energize their listeners.
That voice that was recognized as being unique many years ago continues to give honor and praise to God – the Creator of music. Some say that Katie’s voice reminds them of a young Bonnie Rait. Others say that they hear similarities to Babbie Mason. Still others say that Katie sounds like Jo-Dee Messina. You will just have to listen and form your own opinion.
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Tim Jordan
tjordan@katiejordanmusic.com
Tim grew up in Rossford Ohio, a suburb of Toledo. As a young child, he caught the music “bug” when his parents purchased a record player for him and gave him access to their box of 45 RPM records. He would spend hours in his bedroom spinning records and listening to artists such as the Everly Brothers, Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Perry Como, and Elvis Presley. At the age of 9 he began taking classical piano lessons with instructor Esther Schroeder who introduced him to the beauty of the great hymns of the church.
As a teenager, Tim became a follower of Jesus Christ and began to use his musical talent for the Lord. He began to serve as the accompanist for the children’s and teen choirs at his local church; joined the adult choir; and traveled with the youth choir on summer tours. At the age of 17, he joined the “Shining Light Quartet” and served as their baritone and accompanist for 3 years. At the age of 20, he was hired as the Minister of Music at his home church and continued to lead the worship arts program for 12 years. In 1990, he organized and traveled with the successful gospel trio, “Mirror Image” which recorded professionally in Nashville with producer Roger Talley of the Talley Trio.
As a long time member of the Oregon Nazarene Church, (now named Hope Community Church), Tim has served in a variety of paid and volunteer leadership positions including Minister of Youth & Music, Worship Leader, Interim Pastor, Director of Care Group Ministries, Adult Ministries Director, Capital Campaign Chairman, Campaign Manager, Board Member, and Small Group Leader.
Tim is a 1981 graduate of Bowling Green State University (Bachelor of Science in Education); a 1995 graduate of the University of Toledo (Masters of Ed.); and a 1996 graduate of the University of Toledo (Ph.D. in Health Education). Dr. Jordan is employed by the University of Toledo as a professor of health education in the College of Health Science and Human Services.
Tim is married to a lovely and talented woman (Pam) and has two children (Jeff and Katie). Tim’s hobbies include coaching baseball, writing, hiking, rooting for his favorite sports teams (Cleveland Indians, Browns, Toledo Mud Hens, U.T. Rockets, and the Ohio State Buckeyes), and reading adventure stories by Louis L’Amour.
Michelle Park
mpark@katiejordanmusic.com
Michelle grew up in the Findlay Ohio area and was greatly influenced by her grandparents who lived nearby. Her grandfather was a church song leader and would often grab a chair for his little granddaughter to stand on so they could practice singing together. Like many successful musicians, Michelle was raised in a musical family in which singing was a way of life. In the Park family, it was common to hear family members sing in the car, around the family piano, and every Sunday at church. One of Michelle’s fondest memories was sitting next to her father at home and learning to harmonize as they listened to cassette tapes of the Cathedral Quartet. One could say the Park family was truly harmonious in more ways than one!
Michelle grew up in the Church of the Nazarene and began to serve Christ with her musical talent at a young age. Over the years, Michelle has served in a variety of leadership positions in the local church including music director, worship leader, choir director, vocalist, accompanist, Sunday School teacher, small group leader, and children’s ministry leader. She is a member of the Oregon Nazarene Church in Oregon Ohio (now called Hope Community Church of the Nazarene).
Michelle graduated from Bluffton University in 1996 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education. While at Bluffton, she traveled throughout the United States with the summer touring group, Shining Through (a ministry team), and Camerata Singers (a select choir). She received her Master’s Degree in 2005 from Bowling Green State University in Educational Administration and Supervision and plans to be an elementary principal one day. Michelle is employed by the Oregon City Schools as an elementary music teacher. She absolutely loves her job!
Michelle credits her piano teacher and college voice teacher as two individuals who shaped her life and helped her learn and refine the skills that she relies on each and every day. She would not be where she is today without the guidance of these special people.
Michelle’s hobbies include playing the piano, reading, spending time with her friends, playing games, playing sports (golf, volleyball, and softball), watching sports (especially Ohio State football), and doing a variety of crafts (i.e. scrap booking, making cards, and making jewelry).
Jeff Jordan
jjordan@katiejordanmusic.com
As the first born child in a very musical and athletic family, the odds were high that Jeff Jordan would have an affinity for music or athletics . . . or both. As it turned out, the Lord gave Jeff talent in both of those fields, in addition to talent in the field of medicine.
Jeff’s early musical impressions were formed during his toddler and pre-school years as he sat on his dad’s lap at the family piano. In the evenings, he and his father would sit at the piano for hours composing their own comical songs about insects, animals, and other topics that occupy the mind of a child. During his elementary school years, Jeff began to sing in the children’s choir at church and began to study classical piano under the expert tutelage of Mrs. Grace Erler.
While traveling with his father’s gospel group, Mirror Image, in the 1990’s, Jeff developed an interest in gospel music and audio equipment. As a teenager, he joined the audio visual team at his local church and began to sing in gospel quartets and men’s ensembles, in addition to his high school choir. During his undergraduate college years, he sang and toured with the Men’s Chorale at the University of Toledo. Around the year 2000, Jeff, Katie, and Tim began to sing together at church in a trio known as “Jordan River.” This group was the forerunner of their current ministry with “Soul Venture.”
Jeff is a 2002 graduate of Sylvania Southview High School and a 2006 graduate of The Medical University of Ohio (Bachelor of Science in Nursing). He is currently employed as a Critical Care Nurse at the University of Michigan Medical Center. Jeff is also enrolled in a Masters of Nursing degree program at the University of Toledo. His career goal is to work in the field of Family Medicine as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP).
Jeff is the audio system operator for Soul Venture. He also joins the group on stage for a few songs during most concerts and sings background harmonies on the group’s recording projects. He is single, has one sibling (Katie), and enjoys playing baseball, basketball, rooting for the Cleveland Indians, and discussing theology and politics.
For more information, contact Tim Jordan, Manager, Katie Jordan Music.
Phone: (419) 841-3680 Email: tjordan@bex.net Web: www.katiejordanmusic.com
