Shakan Worship

Matthew Covert and Amy Tincher are a worship-leading duo in the Cincinnati area. With Matthew on acoustic and electric guitar and Amy on bass guitar, kick drum, and vocals, they are able to provide music for worship in a variety of styles. Matthew is a professional guitarist and instructor. Amy is a swim coach and homeschooling mom. They have been employed as a worship duo called Shakan Worship since 2012. They have served God’s people in a variety of ways, including full-time worship team, rotational song-supply, fill-in musicians, event worship band leaders for national conferences, and youth band directors. They enjoy using their gifts in mentoring young musicians and their inclusive attitude allows for teams to be formed with multiple instruments, vocalists, and other forms of worship, like dance and drama. Matthew and Amy believe they are fulfilling a call from God to share the Word through song, prayer, and scripture by leading God’s people to a place where they are free to worship and receive the Holy Spirit.

“Then Christ will dwell in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” Ephesians 3:17

Emily Miller

Soloist Emily Miller is a second year college student studying Commercial Vocal Performance with an emphasis in Music Business at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. The competitive college curriculum in Nashville offers unique training to elite individuals auditioned and accepted from every state in the United States and several countries. Her aspirations are to continue vocal performance as well as to acquire music industry and pre-law education. Emily resides in West Chester, Ohio and graduated from Lakota West High School. She was an honors student, a member of the National Honor Society, Lakota West Chamber Choir, Chorale, and served as a mentor and teacher of underclassmen in music. Emily performed in the May Fest Youth Choir in 2012 and 2013 at Music Hall under the direction of James Bagwell, New York. She was selected for the Ohio All State Choir in 2013 and 2014 under the direction of Dr. Joe Miller, West Minster Choir College as well as the District Honor Choir in 2014 directed by Dean Entsminger, Belmont University. Emily was named a finalist in the Schmidt Youth Vocal Competition at Miami University in 2013. She received the Hamilton Fairfield Orchestra Voice Guild Award in 2014 and performed with the Symphony Orchestra as a soloist in July 2014. She has been awarded several scholarships including the West Chester Community Julia Ellen Burnett Award and a leadership and music scholarship from Taylor University in 2014. Emily also had the privilege of singing the National Anthem for Children’s Hospital Free Throw for Kids. While at Belmont University she had the honor of being selected as a soloist of the National Anthem for Vanderbilt University and Belmont University Sporting events. She was a freshmen member for the Women’s Choir and recently sang as part of the choir with Michael W. Smith, contemporary Christian artist. Miss Miller began studying private piano at the age of 6 and private voice, guitar and music theory as a young teenager. She has devoted her time and energy to her extensive private study participating in several recitals, workshops, and competitions in Cincinnati including the Overture’s Award Competition at the Cincinnati Aronoff. She has extensive study in classical performance and studies in large work performances including Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Von Williams Dona Nobis Pachem, Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Carmina Burana by Carl Orff. Emily performed Light of the Clear Blue Morning as a soloist with the Chamber Choir. Emily is a lifetime member of First Baptist Church in Hamilton, Ohio where she is an active soloist and member of the worship team under the direction of Roger Chamberlain and Laurin Sprague. Her strong Christian values have shined through her song presentation at many venues and performances as well as her ability to teach children in vacation bible schools and worship through song to the elderly in nursing facilities. Emily has a heart for the Lord as evidenced in her strong vocal performances.

NBCC Trio Godfrey McDowell, Cathy Curran & Alfreda Green-Harvey

Hi, my name is Godfrey and I am from Ireland. I play the piano and sing mostly traditional hymns. I sing to the Lord with great passion accompanied by our church member Cathy Curran. I hope to see you soon some Sunday at NBCC.

Hi, I’m Cathy and my gift from the Spirit is my voice. I do not know how to read music and gave up trying long ago. Actually, I did not put much effort into learning as I can hear a song played once or twice and I got it! I have always loved to sing, even as a child. My dad and most of my brothers could sing and play music, but I was the only girl out of the ten kids who would sing. I once belonged to a church in Ewe Beach Hawaii where I lived and sang with the locals and some family members. My favorite memories of worshipping with them were the songs with the high notes. We would all be singing and when the high notes arrived everyone stopped singing but me. We did that every Sunday. How funny is that? I love all types of Christian music and feel comfortable singing anything to praise the Lord. Just let me hear the song a few times and the Spirit tells me how He wants it done and that is how I do it! If I could not sing I would be a miserable Christian cause singing is love, singing is feeling to me.

My name is Alfreda Green-Harvey.
I am from Cincinnati. I have a BA from Ohio State University. I served in the United States Air Force for eight years and now work at the University of Cincinnati as a Library Assistant. People ask me, how I got started singing? My kids at an early age challenged me to sing in front of their music teacher. I wasn’t too interested in singing, but eventually I took lessons from Chris Neely, at Trinity Church. He told me I had a gift and asked me ‘what are you going to do? Sing to the walls? So from then on, I have been encouraged to sing. My husband is my biggest supporter!

FRESH SPIRIT

Take three women who love the Lord and have dedicated their lives to spreading the Gospel in song; add some toe-tapping music, some soul-searching lyrics, and three harmonizing voices. Wrap it all up in prayer and a lot of faith, and you have “Fresh Spirit!”

As only He can, God brought the three ladies together, and gave them harmony not only in voice, but in their hearts as well. Thus, “Fresh Spirit” was born and dedicated to the mission of lifting up the Body of Christ by sharing God’s goodness and love through song.

LINDA BREWER COVERT. Linda is the heart and soul of “Fresh Spirit”, having given birth to the group by a longing to serve God. Linda sings lead, harmony, arranges songs, plays the piano, and is the spokesperson for “Fresh Spirit.” She was born in Harlan, Kentucky, and raised in Georgia, Tennessee, and Ohio. While growing up, she sang, traveled and recorded with her family group (The Brewer Family;) as well as playing and singing with other artists. This is how she met her husband of 43 years, Stan Covert. The Covert’s have two grown children, Matthew and Sarah. Linda’s main focus is to sing Christian music that presents the Word in song while praising the name of the Lord.

SARAH HATFIELD. Sarah has been with “Fresh Spirit” for three years and was born and raised in Sidney, OH. She attended The University of Toledo, majoring in Music Education, with an emphasis on Voice. I don’t think I’ve ever met a person more excited about singing as Sarah. For the most part she sings harmony but can carry the lead as well as perform solos. She was raised in a Christian home, and has the love for people that is so needed when ministering in song as we travel. Her father and brother are both pastors. More times than not, she will write a poem or remembrance from the places we have sung and traveled to. “Fresh Spirit.” is happy to have her. She has a great testimony, shown in her Christian walk each and every day. As the Activity Director at a Retirement Home, her love and compassion is so needed.

LISA STACEY. Lisa comes to us from Midland, OH and is the newest member of “Fresh Spirit.”. She also sings harmonies and some leads for “Fresh Spirit.” Her desire has always been to sing and be part of a gospel group. She, her husband and family attend Bible Baptist Church in Wilmington, OH where she sings in the choir, performs with the church quartet and has an active role in working for the church. We are very happy that she has found her place with “Fresh Spirit.”

STAN COVERT
Stan rounds out the group as the Sound Man, Chauffeur, and all-around VIP! Stan tirelessly loads equipment, gets the group where we’re going, makes us sound good, and puts up with three women! As a minister of the Gospel, he never misses an opportunity to speak and share the message of Christ.

“Fresh Spirit” is available to minister in song to your church or group. For booking information, please contact Linda Covert (513) 314-7726

Donna Frost

Donna Frost is a traveling troubadour, logging thousands of miles each year across the country, one voice, one guitar, one ukulele and many songs & stories. She has released five CD’s of her original music since 1998 and is currently promoting her latest CD, “Ukeabilly Mama”. “Ukeabilly Mama” is Donna’s first all original ukulele music album and it has been well received since it was released in August of 2014. Donna’s music draws from many influences: Americana, rock, folk, rockabilly and country. She is a prolific songwriter and has been a recipient of 10 consecutive ASCAPlus awards in the past 10 years for her work as a performing songwriter. Donna was a Kerrville New Folk finalist in 2004. She also has appeared as an extra in episodes of all three seasons of ABC’s “Nashville” TV series as well as a number of music videos. She also has worked in 2 feature films to be released soon, “The Body Sculptor” and “The Silver Twins” (her first speaking role). Donna sang harmonies with her dear friend and Grand Ole Opry legend, the late Skeeter Davis, from 1996 til Ms. Davis’ death in 2004, and performed “The End of the World” at Skeeter’s induction into the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame in 2013. Donna is currently writing her first book, “Guitars, Ukes and Sequin Boots”. For more information: www.donnafrost.com, www.reverbnation.com/donnafrostmusic

Samantha Carlson & Ohge

Samantha Carlson, born June 28, 1988, in Mineola, New York, has been singing since age 2. She graduated from Northern Kentucky University in May of 2011 with a Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance. Music is her passion and her life. She sings the classic standards from the 1920s through today, as well as jazz, big band, show-tunes, country, oldies, classical, opera, and pop … (English, Italian, Spanish, German, & French), but she identifies herself mainly as a jazz/standards singer. Raised in a musical family, both parents are vocalists and instrumentalists. Their influence was very strong. They always encouraged her passion for music, and to follow her dreams. Her other influences include Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand, Nat King Cole, Josh Groban, and Andrea Bocelli.

In 2013, Samantha performed at a benefit concert for PBS SoCal in Orange County, CA, and continues to perform for fundraisers with JT and California Dreamin’ in the Orange County area. She has performed alongside local and international celebrities such as Nick Clooney (2011-2014), Bucky & Martin Pizzarelli (2009), Maxine Brown (2007), Hilary Kole (2009, 2010), and Kevin Covais of American Idol (2006). Samantha has performed at one of NY’s finest cabaret jazz room “The Metropolitan Room”, “Birdland”, the legendary jazz club in New York City, as a guest artist in 2009 and 2010. Since 2009, she has been the female vocalist for Swingtime Big Band — Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky/Indiana’s premiere 17-piece swing band. Samantha, along with Swingtime Big Band, performed at the 2009 opening night of the Cincinnati Red’s game.

Samantha’s debut CD “Day In-Day Out” is currently aired on jazz and adult contemporary radio stations throughout the U.S., Canada, South Africa, Russia, and Australia. And most recently, was added to the Siriusly Sinatra channel on Sirius Radio.

Samantha currently lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, performs with her jazz combo, and with several big bands, locally, and nationally.

Ohge was the lead guitar player for the Hamilton Movement, a regional R&B group in the 70’s and early 80’s.
The group was the opening act for The Ohio Players, The Isley Brothers, and the Manhattans.
After years of living from a suitcase Ohge (pronounced “oh gee”) now resides in Cincinnati, where he is involved in volunteer work with the Crossroads Church community.

Matt Waits

Matt has been playing guitar for over 15 years. Matt played in his high school days for Maderia Church of Christ’s youth program helping lead worship for high schoolers in their Oasis program. Matt lives with his wife and pet pig and dogs in Forest Park. He works as a sales engineer and enjoys spending time with family. Matt played secular music for some time after high school and has felt the call from the Lord to return back to his service.

Jaimee Hiltbrand

Jaimee has been performing in some capacity since she was four years old. She is a vocalist, pianist, rhythm guitarist, harpist (harmonica), and she dabbles in fiddle and mandolin once in a blue moon. She teaches piano, beginning guitar, and voice lessons part-time. She currently performs as a solo artist playing mostly private parties. She also leads the worship services on occasion for New Burlington Church of Christ.

Jaimee’s break-out gig was as June Carter in the Johnny Cash Tribute band, Johnny Combs and the Ohio Three. She was also a member of The Nexus Church Band. She then performed in a duo singing lead vocals, playing guitar, and harmonica in the steamy duo, Two Groovy. Most of Jaimee’s time is spent lovingly raising her precious son, Jonah. She enjoys marveling at God’s beautiful stars, skies, seas, rivers, lakes, and mountains.

Praysing Hymn

Tim and Tamara Starling were both raised in homes filled with music. They are active on the worship team at their church, Harrison Avenue Assembly of God. They are part of a five-person singing group called “Praysing Hymn,” and are excited about any opportunity to share the love of God through music. They enjoy spending their time playing with their five-year old daughter, Kherington, and their cat, Fluffy.

Dierra Merritt

Dierra, known by family and friends as Didi (or Di), is an exuberant singer/songwriter, hailing from Cincinnati, OH. Dierra showed her passion for music at the age of 5 when she began singing and playing piano. As she got older she, displayed a knack for dance and toured with Christian recording artist, Nicole C. Mullen. However, Dierra always felt her first love tugging at her heartstrings. Graduating from Walnut Hills High School, Dierra began learning to play guitar and went on to study Songwriting/Production at Berklee College of Music. There, she served in music ministry at local churches, with other Berklee musicians, also singing at venues in New York and Boston alongside local artists. Today Dierra is continuing to follow her dream of being a professional musician, and most importantly growing and maintaining her faith as a Christian.