Grammy-Nominated Artist, Educator an Inspiration

At Cornish College of the Arts at Seattle University, our faculty are not just educators but also renowned artists, creators and thought leaders who inspire students to unlock their full creative potential.

This year, Grammy®-nominated artist, educator and multidisciplinary talent Johnaye Kendrick and her vocal group säje were nominated for a Grammy in the category of Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals for their song “Alma.” This isn’t the group’s first accolade—säje has previously won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest Grand Prize and the ACDA Arrangement Award for their bold, boundary-pushing sound.

In this Q&A, Kendrick shares her insights on teaching, creating music and the exciting projects on her horizon.

Your music bridges original compositions with beloved works. How do you guide students to explore their creativity and develop their unique voices?

Kendrick: It starts with creating a safe space where students feel comfortable sharing their ideas. If someone brings in a piece and says, “I’m not sure about this,” I’m already celebrating because they’ve taken a risk. That’s where growth begins.

We work through their doubts together, exploring what feels authentic to them. I emphasize that creating art is about being true to yourself. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s alignment with your truest self. When students trust themselves and embrace vulnerability, their creativity flourishes.

With your experience as a vocalist, composer, orchestrator and multi-instrumentalist, how do you help students navigate the interplay between these disciplines?

Kendrick: For me, all these roles are interconnected. I’ll be scat singing and thinking about classical violin or meditating before a performance while drawing on my sound healing practice. It’s all part of who I am as an artist.

I encourage students to bring all parts of themselves into their work. For example, if a singer also plays guitar, I’ll say, “Bring your guitar to your lesson. Let’s see how it influences your singing.” It’s not about separating your skills but letting them inform one another. This approach often leads to unique and deeply personal artistic expressions. 

Are there any upcoming projects or ideas you’re excited to share with students or the broader Cornish community?

Kendrick: So many! My vocal group, säje, is working on our second album, which I’m really excited about. I’ve also been diving deeper into sound therapy and offering community sound baths, including some right here at Cornish. It’s been a transformative way to bring healing through sound.

Another project close to my heart is an album called Self Portrait. It’s inspired by the idea of visual self-portraits and focuses on self-love and acceptance. Each song is like a love letter to myself, flipping self-criticism into celebration.

I also have ideas for projects inspired by romance novel playlists and a suite I’ve composed for a string-based ensemble. There’s so much inspiration around me and while juggling all these projects can be challenging, it’s also what fuels me as an artist.

As a Grammy®-nominated artist and educator, what lessons from your artistic journey do you share with your students?

Kendrick: One of the biggest lessons I share is to face challenges head-on. When I graduated, I made a list of everything that intimidated me or felt like a weakness and worked to improve those areas. Growth happens when you lean into discomfort.

I encourage my students to identify the areas where they want to grow and dedicate time to them. Don’t gloss over the hard parts—that’s where transformation happens. And as you tackle those challenges, you’re not just addressing weaknesses; you’re enhancing everything else you do as an artist.

Everything I’ve learned, I share with my students and they inspire me to keep learning and growing. It’s a beautiful, symbiotic process that never gets old.

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Johnaye Kendrick’s story is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when creativity meets community. Whether it’s through her transformative sound baths or her boundary-pushing projects, she inspires everyone around her to dream bigger and dig deeper. Explore the Music Department and see how this vibrant community can help you turn your passion into purpose.