IVAN’s Bio

Ivan Akansiima is a Christian and a Ugandan-born Jazz pianist with a BA in music performance from Hope College Holland MI, and a Master’s Degree in Jazz Performance from Western Michigan University Kalamazoo MI. He is a multi-instrumentalist, a composer, music arranger, a worship leader, a biblical teacher and a music instructor. His music style draws from biblical spirituality and faith and combines indigenous Ugandan and African rhythms with Jazz music traits that are historically rooted in African music traditions.

Ivan began playing music in church at 7 years old and began performing professionally in his teenage years outside the church as a first call musician in Uganda’s capital—Kampala city. He has played with some of the most renowned music artists in Uganda’s and Africa’s music industry both on stage and in-studio as a session musician.

From 2008-2010, he toured extensively as a band member in various bands performing at international music festivals, Jazz clubs, churches, government events, community arts centers, schools, universities, and house concerts in over 40 countries and in 49 States of America and across Canada.

For the last 7 years, he has been an active performer on the West Michigan Jazz scene, playing with almost all the prominent Jazz artists in Grand Rapids City. He is currently a student of ministry at Western Theological Seminary and a member of Pillar Church in Holland MI, where he is on staff in the music ministry. Ivan continues to compose and perform Jazz music in South West Michigan and across the United States.