Kaylen A. Jervis

Kaylen Jervis is a self-described historian with a passion for music. He holds a BA in Social Science Education from Dillard University [1998] and currently teaches history at Anatol Rodgers Sr High School, Nassau, Bahamas. Admittedly the music came somewhat late as he did not sing in any choral ensembles until high school. Upon matriculation, Kaylen became a member of several choirs including The Bahamas National Gospel Mass Choir, The Anglican Youth Mass Choir and The College of the Bahamas Choir, and the Southern University at Shreveport- Bossier City(SUSBO) Gospel Choir. Although he always liked to sing, it was not until Kaylen transferred to Dillard University, New Orleans, and successfully auditioned for the Dillard University Concert Choir and Chancel Choir that he discovered a deep-rooted passion for choral music, especially Negro Spirituals. He has toured much of the United States with the DU Concert Choir.

Kaylen returned to the Bahamas and 1998 and started teaching at his alma mater, St. John’s College, He started conducting the school’s choir and soon started arranging. The Emerald Chorale of St John’s College was the E. Clement Bethel National Arts Festival National Champions from 2001-2003. In 2016 his arrangement of ‘ Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence’ was premiered at America Cantat by the Highgrove Singers. Kaylen is very active in the Bahamian sacred music scene and not one to be boxed in, has conducted choral workshops in the Anglican/Episcopalian Church, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and the Church of God. He is the founder and conductor of the ReSound Vocal Ensemble.

As mentioned beforehand, Kaylen has sung in many choirs and ensembles. However, there are three directors whose impact far outweighs the others:
Darrell Hurston the director of his church choir, The Holy Trinity Choraliers, in Nassau Bahamas, and is both mentor and muse. Mr. S Carver Davenport (Dillard University) and Mrs. Sonya Hester (SUSBO) have had a major influence on his musical style and approach to choral music.