Kenneth Cope Brings Inspirational Music to March Concerts at SCERA Center for the Arts

It helps to have a mother who believes in you. Popular Christian recording artist Kenneth Cope still remembers being a fourth grader listening to music in the back seat of the family car. As he sang along, he began creating harmonies to whatever was playing. His mother turned around and said, "Son, you have a gift."

Fast forward more than four decades later, and he still has the gift as a singer, composer, musician and producer who fills standing-room-only venues with music deeply imbedded in his religious faith.

Whether he is writing specifically for a Mormon audience or presents a more contemporary Christian sound to a broader audience, Cope has fans clamoring for tickets to his concerts.

This is evidenced at SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem where his March 6 concert quickly sold out. A second concert, Tuesday March 7 at 7 p.m. has been added, and tickets are available at www.scera.org, by calling 801-225-ARTS, or in person at SCERA (745 S. State., St.) weekdays from 10am-6pm. All seats are reserved at $14 for adults and $12 for children 3-11 and seniors 65 and older.

"With Kenneth Cope, you get a gifted musician whose music and messages of faith and hope that allow him to connect with audiences on a really personal level," says Adam J. Robertson, SCERA's President and CEO. "He is at his best in intimate settings, and our 450-seat theatre brings that smaller atmosphere."

From ukulele lessons in grade school, Cope advanced to guitar in junior high and practiced four to six hours, day after day. "Music," he says, "was filling my soul" and guitar was becoming his instrument of choice. He added to his musical talents at Houston, Texas's' High School for the Performing Arts, where he could focus on vocals, theory and performance. Simultaneously, his faith in his religion expanded from his early morning seminary classes and scripture reading. He decided he would use his musical abilities to praise the Lord and His gospel.

After serving a mission, Cope returned his attention to music, singing on the Church's seminary and institute album, "Not of the World." He sang at BYU events and Especially for Youth conferences where he made connections to write songs that reflected the conference themes. A fortunate musical break came when he met well-known Mormon artist Lex de Azevedo, who invited Cope to become a musical artist on his new contemporary gospel record label.

Among Cope's dozen solo albums are "Heaven-Don't Miss It for the World, "Greater than Us All, "Voices, "All About You," "My Servant Joseph" and "Women at the Well." His many Pearl Awards include Male Recording Artist of the Year and Inspirational Album of the Year, and he is well known for favorite songs like "His Hands" and "Never A Better Hero." He also enjoys mentoring and producing new artists that have included The Goodman Family, Katherine Nelson, Mindy Gledhill and Daniel Beck. Additionally, Cope is creating a stage musical about the life of Christ called "Son of Man."