Biography

Singer, Songwriter, Dancer, Actress, Voice Teacher, Vocal Arranger and Vocal Producer. Her name is synonymous with such roles. Her voice is pure, honey-laced, yet soulful, vocals embodying the influences of her grandmother Thelma’s powerful gospel singing, her uncle James Van Buren’s internationally-known jazz vocals, and her cousin Michael Van Buren’s R&B musicianship and national drumline acclaim.

When several national artists performing in the Twin Cities have requested backup vocalists with excellent vocal ability and range, Bridget was chosen and sang with the Grammy Award-winning singers Michael Bolton, Barry Manilow, and Larnelle Harris. She also sang with the Twin Cities’ own Alexander O’Neal, the 2x Grammy Award-nominated producer Chris ‘Big Dog’ Davis and Multi-Platinum jazz artist Walter Chancellor Jr.

Bridget’s gift of singing led to her signing a record contract with the independent label, Westgate Artists of Brooklyn Park, MN. Though production was halted midway due to label publishing issues, the experience fueled her passion to pursue the dream she had since childhood.

As with many vocalists who have become great singers, Bridget honed her vocal skills in church at an early age. She received classical and jazz vocal training from the age of 9 through college from Julliard-trained vocal teachers and studied piano. She also studied ballet and jazz dance from childhood through her college years as well as praise dance.

Bridget held such titles as Miss Black Kansas (twice), Miss Black America Finalist, Miss Black USA Finalist, Miss Wichita and Miss Wichita State (1st Runner Up) and nearly 20 local & state titles. Upon graduating from Wichita State University as a Music Education major, she traveled with her talented sister Vicki singing gospel, jazz and R&B throughout the Midwest.

In Hollywood, she was a finalist in the Stairway to the Stars Talent Showcase and performed in such venues as Marla Gibbs’ Memory Lane in Los Angeles. She was featured in the magazines ‘Black Stars’ and ‘Black Hollywood’ and ‘Everybody’

Bridget’s vocal ability then afforded her the opportunity to perform internationally as Regional Finalist and lead vocalist from over 500 entrants nationwide of the American Collegiate Talent Showcase, which took her on a USO tour of Germany, Norway, Iceland and Portugal. She was awarded the ‘Certificate of Esteem’ from the US Department of Defense among other prestigious awards

As a member of the 3x Grammy Award- Winning Sounds of Blackness since 1993, Bridget performs nationally and has been a featured vocalist on several of their CDs. While a national music critic wrote “she brings robust gospel joy” to her performance of Gladys Knight in their ‘Soul of the 60’s Revue’, many expressed love for her portrayal of Tina Turner. Word is her more recent role of ‘Tina’ in Jeff Cryer’s ‘Motown Revue’ brought down the house!

Her powerhouse vocals and energetic performances led many bands of the Minnesota music scene to be among Twin Cities favorites including ‘The Power of Ten’, ‘The R-Factor’, ‘The Brian Kinney Band’, ‘Marquis’, ‘Synergy’, ‘Zensome’ and ‘Bridg’NBloom’.

As an actress, she traveled the Midwest receiving rave reviews in her portrayal of Aretha Franklin, Josephine Baker, and Patti Labelle in a ‘Sugar & Spice- A Black Woman’s Melody’. She was cast in the chorus of ‘The Gospel of Colonus’. She roused the audience as Erzulie, the Goddess of Love in Children Theater Company’s production of ‘Once On This Island’. She honed her acting skills in the Capri Theater productions of ‘Queen P’ and ‘The Devil Didn’t Raise You’.

Bridget vows to share her gift of singing to uplift the spirit of all people!