Rev. Dr. Stefanie Minatee, A native of Newark, New Jersey, Rev. Stef, as she is affectionately called, is the artistic director & founder of the Grammy-Award winning choir, Jubilation; and has built her life and career around music.
Rev. Stef formed the acclaimed choir, Jubilation, in 1998 at the request of New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) CEO Larry Goldman and Newark Councilman/Assemblyman Donald K. Tucker. She has led the choir in numerous performances nationally and internationally since that time.
Jubilation’s first album “Launch Out Project” was released in 2009 followed by o Happy Day in 2010; 2013 Jubilation Christmas; 2018 It’s All about You and in 2022 Worship Him. Jubilation won a Grammy after being featured with Latifah on the 2009 compilation album, Oh Happy Day: An All-Star Music Celebration, and also sang behind her at the 2010 Super Bowl.
Jubilation’s reputation as New Jersey’s most decorated community choir dates to 1999, when Minatee, known to all as Rev. Stef, auditioned more than 300 singers from the tristate area for a Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration at NJPAC. She selected 120 from that group, including Queen Latifah’s mother, Rita Owens. The group went on to sing that year with Shirley Caesar, another gospel giant. In 2002, Jubilation was tapped as the choir on Ray Charles Celebrates: A Gospel Christmas Album. In 2010, the choir earned a Grammy with Latifah and other artists for a track on the compilation album Oh Happy Day. The choir also travelled on tours to Japan and was featured on stages with artists like Isaac Hayes and tours to places like Japan.
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