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”. 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. His next book Worshipology comes out Fall of 2022. Be on the lookout!

In Summer of 2017, Kurtis and his family moved to Nashville to plant a church rooted in the Gospel, with the heart of worship. That church was called Bridges Nashville, and launched September 2018, and continues to reach people every weekend both in Nashville and online. You can find out more about the church at www.bridgesnashville.com, or visit them any Sunday morning at The Listening Room in Nashville!

In the Summer of 2022, Kurtis and crew begin a new chapter of their lives, moving back to Virginia to become the worship pastor at Destination Church, an amazing ministry located just south of Richmond. Kurtis continues to travel leading worship, preaching, and teaching workshops throughout the year. He also writes songs as a part of the Simple Hymns record label based out of Franklin, TN. In addition to writing worship songs, Kurtis is passionate about creating instrumental music to help people connect with God’s presence through prayer and meditation, and overcome anxiety in their lives. You can hear his instrumentals on TBN, Discovery Network, in film and commercials. He also has several instrumental albums on the MUSIC page here!

Kurtis is married to Sarah, and they have two crazy awesome kids, Norah and Moses, and a 3 legged dog named Lilah.