Dr. Patrice E. Turner, M. Div.

Biography

Patrice E. Turner is an accomplished classical, jazz, and gospel pianist, vocalist, and clinician. She received a Bachelor of Music, a Bachelor of Music Education, and a Master of Arts from The Ohio State University. Patrice received both a Master and Doctor of Music and Music Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. Finally, she received a Master of Divinity degree from Duke Divinity School with certificates in Baptist Studies, Black Church Studies, Preaching, and Worship. She graduated summa cum laude with all six degrees. Dr. Turner has been published in the Music Educators Journal and the Journal of Religious Thought.

Patrice began playing the piano at age three. Her work with gospel music began at age five when she transposed a hymn for a trumpet and piano duo. Since then, she has composed and arranged many songs for her home church, The Friendship Missionary Baptist Church of Columbus, Ohio (pastored by her father, the late Rev. Dr. G. Thomas Turner, Sr.); her group, Spiritually Fed; and her personal endeavors. She spent several years leading the music ministry of her home church as a musician, vocalist, director, and composer before moving to New York City. As a choral and general music educator, Patrice taught at Johnson Park Middle School and conducted two groups of Capital University’s Columbus (Ohio) Youth Choir. For 14 years, she taught in Jazz at Lincoln Center’s (JALC’s) WeBop! Program.

Patrice has several recordings to her credit, including her debut EP, Introducing Patrice E. Turner. In 2008, she appeared in an episode of Sesame Street. In 2011, Patrice had the pleasure of performing with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra as well as with Reggie Workman and the African-American Legacy Project. WeBop: A Family Jazz Party, a CD that features Patrice as a vocalist, musician, and composer, was released February 28, 2012. Patrice has shared her musical gifts nationally, across the United States, and internationally in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Greece, Mexico, Brazil, Chilé, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. She has performed at such world-renown venues as JALC’s Rose Theater (NYC), JALC’s The Appel Room (NYC), Smetana Hall (Prague), The Apollo Theater (NYC), Carnegie Hall (NYC), Subculture (NYC), and The Konserthuset (Stockholm).

On January 1, 2018, Patrice became the first female Director of Worship &the Arts at the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. She has appeared in numerous performances of BOUNCE: The Basketball Opera as the unforgettable Mrs. Lucas. In 2017, she was the Associate Music Director of Broadway Inspirational Voices. In 2019, a video of Broadway Inspirational Voices went viral with Patrice leading Kurt Carr’s “For Every Mountain” (4 million views and counting!). In February 2021, Patrice was featured in the PBS documentary, The Black Church, by Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and can also be seen in the February 2024 follow-up, Gospel. On January 4, 2025, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Chorus along with the Ebenezer Baptist Church Choir and Band presented “The King Celebration Concert” at Ebenezer Baptist Church featuring jazz artist, Gregory Porter. An hour-long version of the two-hour concert premiered on Georgia Public Broadcasting for Juneteenth on June 19, 2025, and included an interview and music featuring Patrice, who is considered the artistic visionary of the concert. On Sunday, March 30, 2025, she preached her initial sermon at Ebenezer entitled “D.I.P. Yourself.” On October 2, 2025, Patrice was inducted into the 40th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. College of Ministers and Laity Collegium of Scholars at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.

One of Patrice’s favorite scriptures is Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me”(KJV).

Facebook: facebook.com/PatriceETurnerOfficial/
Instagram: @PatriceETurner
Twitter: @PatriceETurner
TikTok: @PatriceETurner