Rev. Dr. Stephen P. Kuykendall is Director of Music Ministries for Covenant Presbyterian. He has served as a Commissioned Minister of Music for the Church of the Nazarene, holding staff positions with churches in Montana, Michigan, Colorado, Louisiana, Illinois, and Idaho. He has worked extensively with teen and college ministries in the Midwest and has directed student outreach ministries for several universities, including Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, ID. Steve holds advanced degrees in Church Music, Vocal Performance, Organ Performance, Choral Conducting, Choral and Vocal Pedagogy, and Worship Studies.
Steve has substantial collegiate and community experience in choral and orchestral conducting, keyboard performance, accompanying, band, marching band, wind ensemble, brass ensemble, and orchestra. He has performed in numerous operas and solo recitals and has been a featured soloist in performances of major choral works such as the Messiah and the Mozart Requiem. Steve has been a member of numerous semi-professional community chamber ensembles and is a member of Critical Mass Vocal Artists and Opera Idaho. At present, Steve serves as an Adjunct Professor of Music and as Academic Organist for Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho, and most recently served as Associate Director of Music and Worship Arts for the Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise, Idaho.
Steve is a member of the Idaho Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association, serving as the Music in Worship Resources and Repertoire Chair for the Idaho State Board. Steve is also a member of the American Guild of Organists, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the International Piano Teachers Guild, the Handbell Musicians of America, the National Music Educators Association, the Idaho Music Educators Association, Delta Omicron Music Society Fraternity, and Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and Service Organization. He has been awarded membership in Outstanding College Students of America, Golden Key National Honor Society, Gamma Beta Phi National Collegiate Honor and Service Organization, and Who’s Who among Music Instructors of Idaho.
A longtime fan of musical theater, Steve has served as pianist and music director for numerous musical theater productions with Northwest Nazarene University, the Musical Theater of Idaho, Nampa High School, and Ambrose Christian School. He is the founding director of the Eagle Song Contemporary Chamber Chorale and the Treasure Valley Love Inc (Love in the Name of Christ) Community Choir. Steve is the owner and primary instructor for Eagle Rock Music Studios in Nampa, Idaho, which is also home to Eagle Song. Eagle Song has sung twice in Carnegie Hall and in churches in Belgium and France, including the L'Oratoire du Louvre (The Kings Chapel) in Paris.
Steve and his wife Michelle have been married for 42 years and are privileged to have three married children, six grandchildren, and a 6-year-old Pitbull/Bulldog mix named Luna. They all reside here in the Treasure Valley. Steve is also a professionally trained barista and retail bookseller. He loves racket sports and outdoor sports, particularly beach volleyball, along with hiking and camping. His hobbies include books, movies, history, architecture, games, and travel. He is known to frequent new and used bookstores and has a particular proclivity for all things chocolate.