Having written over 1200 songs in every genre since the age of 13, and being a worship leader since the age of 13, Kurtis truly understands the gift of music, and the potential for it’s impact on our world today. Some may recognize him as a top 50 finalist on American Idol’s fourth season. Kurtis has also appeared on the Fox Morning Show, BET’s Bobby Jones Gospel Hour, and his song “Forever Changed”, written for his beloved Virginia Tech community after the April 2007 tragedy was featured on NBC News and CNN. His song “Burn it All Down” hit Billboard’s Hot Gospel top 20, written with Joel Buckner, fellow worship leader. Kurtis wrote for and was featured on Integrity Music’s “ONE a Worship Collective”, which hit #1 on Soundscan in it’s first week in 2013. In Summer 2017, Kurtis was featured on the #1 album “The Emerging Sound Vol. 3”. With his latest solo release “Hymn Like” Kurtis hit Billboard Christian charts, and the songs are making their way to audiences of all ages, and churches of all styles. Many of his worship choruses are being sung around the world in churches every weekend.
Kurtis has shared the stage with many well-known artists, both Christian and Mainstream, including John Mayer, Howie Day, Sanctus Real, Chris McClarney, Paul Baloche, Reliant K, Gungor, Ben Folds, Robbie Seay Band, and The White Tie Affair.
From 2010 to 2017, Kurtis served as the Worship Director at National Community Church, a multi-site church led by Pastor and NY Times best-selling author Mark Batterson in the Washington DC area. There he led NCC Worship, the music team made up of over 150 singers and musicians. While signed with Integrity Music, they released “You Alone”, a worship album co-produced by Parks, alongside Dove award winner Kyle Lee. Kurtis led the songwriting and development of the team, and had the opportunity to pastor their worship leaders and teams. He produced 5 albums for NCC, in addition to producing over 50 albums for various Christian artists nationwide, on both major and independent record labels.
In September 2016, Kurtis released his first book, Sound Check, a book on authentic worship, with a passion to charge worship leaders to live a life of authenticity, on and off the stage. The book is through David C Cook resources, and has already become a best seller in the worship space. He’s spoken at events like the National Worship Leader Conference, Chorale Festival, and still travels throughout the year to churches, conferences and festivals, leading worship, teaching clinics and preaching.
Writing Sound Check stirred a passion within Kurtis’ heart to reach creatives, musicians, and artists with a message of purpose, rooted in a Christ-like identity. During long road trips and late night flights, Kurtis would spend time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit why Nashville, TN kept coming to his heart. He felt that still small voice whisper to plant a church in the downtown area of Nashville, to reach a city that has experienced exponential growth over the last 5 years. That whisper soon turned into a shout, and Bridges Church was born. Bridges are a perfect metaphor for who we are called to be as believers in the one true God. Their roots go deep, they stand through violent storms, and they connect far off places. Bridges also happen to be one of Kurtis’ favorite parts of a worship song to write. In Summer of 2017, Kurtis and his family moved to Nashville to begin the greatest adventure of their lives! Bridges Nashville launched September 2018, with a unique vision to teach the Gospel through music, fusing story and scripture with song. You can find out more about the church at www.bridgesnashville.com, or visit them any Sunday morning at The Listening Room in Nashville!
Kurtis is married to Sarah, and they have two crazy awesome kids, Norah and Moses.
