ABOUT

Christine founded the band in 2004 and is the manager and bandleader for Soul X. She is a professional recording artist and has been recognized as one of the top tier pop vocalists in the country, sharing her talents nationally and internationally.  Blessed with a dynamic vocal range and the ability to sing diverse vocal styles remarkably well, her studio recordings include jingles, TV commercials, and original music projects. She has sung for countless events including the NFL Commissioner’s Super Bowl Parties, NBA All-star games, opening of Mandalay Bay Las Vegas, with Sara Brightman, Donna Summer, and for President Obama.  Christine has a BA in Business Communication and Vocal Pedagogy, and taught private voice for several years. She currently owns and manages Starkey Entertainment, performs with her bands Soul X, American Honey & Tennessee Whiskey Duo, and is Mom to four amazing kids.

Miguel Calhoun (MC Matrix) also known as the “GR8 Motivator” is a Chicago native who has been entertaining since he was a young child. He got the dancing bug when he joined a breakdancing crew that gave underprivileged youth free access to dance training. Years later he started winning talent shows and break-dancing competitions, which lead to him travel to places like Japan, the UK, and all over the United States as a choreographer. His work as a backup dancer for multiple artists lead to him being seen on music videos on cable networks like MTV and BET. Adding to his love for helping people, Miguel is also a personal trainer and aerobics instructor receiving multiple awards for excellence in both fields. Motivational speaking is also a love of his. Miguel believes that true happiness comes by first connecting with, then creating incredible moments for anyone that he comes into contact with. Being a wedding emcee and member of Soul X is a wonderful way for Miguel to spread joy and accomplish his mission. 

Leo Nova-Wolfe is thrilled to be officially joining the Soul X Band. He has nationally and internationally performed as a singer and dancer sharing his exceptional talents for audiences all over the world. Some of his favorite contracts include working with The Fred Barton Orchestra, various contracts with Dollywood Entertainment, Norwegian Cruise Lines, the Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and Home for the Holidays at the Lone Tree Arts Center.  He holds a BA in Music Theatre from West Liberty/Pace University in New York. Currently, he also works in the Springs as a vocalist and bartender at the award-winning piano bar Icons in Colorado Springs, and as an event coordinator with Dreamcatcher Weddings.

Singing since he was old enough to walk, rapping since age 12, producer since age 15, and audio engineer since age 19, Paul Junior or “PJ” is more than just a triple threat. Paul started his professional career primarily as a rapper/producer a part of the group Fresh Breath Committee, who opened for some of the biggest Hip Hop acts coming through Colorado. FBC earned a ‘Denver’s Best Hip Hop Album’ award in 2010 by Denver Westword, followed by 7 years in a row of ‘Best Hip Hop Group’ nominations before being named a ‘Denver Music Icon’ in 2014. Shifting his focus to singing and production in 2013, Paul performed with many of Denver’s best bands, including being a member of the Michael Jackson Tribute Band ‘Forever Dangerous’ alongside MJ’s touring guitarist Jennifer Batten.  PJ’s inspirational music video ‘Firing Line’ debuted on April 19, 2017, leading up to his debut solo album release titled ‘Santa Fe Drive’ in November 2017, and most recently his single and music video ‘Autumn’ released in May of 2021.

Chris Contreras was born in Santiago Chile, but spent most of his formative years in Miami Fl.  Growing up in this diverse city, he was exposed to a great variety of musical styles and genres and was fortunate enough to study guitar with legendary jazz teacher Vincent Bredice, who has published several books for Mel Bay publishing, and counts Joe Diorio among his star pupils. Chris has a Bachelor of Music degree in composition from Florida International University and then went on to study Classical composition at Arizona State University where he earned his Master of Music Degree.  Currently he lives and works as a professional musician in the Denver front range area, also teaching private lessons for guitar, voice, and piano.  His diverse training allows him to cover many styles, including Rock, Jazz and Classical.  He also actively writes and records original music for Tiny Heater Music, an independent record label of which he is co-founder and part owner. 

Scott is a well known fixture in the Colorado music community. He has over 100 album credits plus several industry awards to his name. His music performance career has included many world tours, Broadway musicals and live album recordings. Scott has performed with legendary Colorado bands such as The Samples, Opie Gone Bad, Josh Blackburn and Wendy Woo, and now calls Soul X his musical home. He is an avid motorcyclist and teaches the young drummers of the future as a PASIC certified drumming instructor.

Jonny Sterling has performed all over the world (Mexico, Latin America, South America, The Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, all over the continental US, England, and Africa) as a Keyboard Player, Vocalist, and Musical Director with various projects. He has performed with just about every kind of band you can think of – Variety, Country, R&B, Rock, Blues, Swing, Jazz, African, Theatrical Shows, and many more. Jonny has a BA in Music from the University of Northern Colorado, and is currently working on his Masters in Jazz Studies at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver, where he is the principle pianist for the Lamont Jazz Orchestra and is also the music director for Forever In Blue Jeans, a Neil Diamond tribute band.  Jonny teaches privately and is an accomplished arranger and composer who has the expertise and experience to bring value to and/or lead any musical project.

Eduardo “Bijoux” Barbosa is a bassist, composer and arranger who was born in Sao Paulo-Brazil where he studied music with Prof. Nadir Dos Santos and Carlos Verenzuela.  Bijoux has been one of the top studio musicians in Colorado since moving here in 1996, and has composed and performed on over 1200 recording sessions, many of them award winning and featured on TV and in movies. Bijoux has performed with a wide array of national and international stars, local jazz musicians, plus many of the touring jazz soloists who make a stop to perform in Denver. Bijoux currently teaches bass for the Jazz department at the Colorado University at Boulder and also at Lamont School of music, University of Denver. He currently also performs with the Nelson Rangell Quartet, GogoLab, the Littleton Symphony Orchestra, CJRO, and the worship band for Mile Hi Church.

Originally from San Diego, Mandi brings over 25 years of trumpet performance experience to Soul X.  She has had the privilege of performing all over the world in Japan, Taiwan, France, Holland, Belgium, Italy, Canada and nearly every state in the US with groups such as the Blue Devils Drum & Bugle Corps, the Blue Knights Drum & Bugle Corps, and an all-female musical stage show called Odyssey.  Since moving to Colorado in 2013, she has been a member of the Denver Broncos Stampede and has performed countless gigs for other companies such as Party Crashers, Starkey Entertainment, and Imprint Group.  She currently lives in Northglenn with her husband Aaron, daughter Hailey, and dog Chase and works as an Assistant Property Manager for The Gerrity Group.  Mandi truly feels lucky to be a part of such an amazing band!

Denver native and North High School graduate, Carlos started playing saxophone at the age of 12, and went on to study music at the University of Colorado Denver, and the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He has spent the last 40 years playing with a range of bands throughout the Denver metro area. Musical influences include Sonny Stitt, Lenny Pickett, and Clarence Clemons, to name just a few. He has performed with Charlie Burrell, Don Was, Bonnie Raitt and Kenny Loggins. Carlos loves all types of music, but has a soft spot for jazz, Latin, and funk. He has recently become infatuated with learning string instruments like cello and guitar, and is constantly improving his musical education and adding to his repertoire. 

Jonathan Zimny is a trombonist, vocalist, composer, and educator from Sacramento, California. Raised by two band directors, he has loved and been deeply involved with music from a very young age.
He moved to Colorado in 2010 to attend the University of Northern Colorado where he received his BM in Jazz Studies and later finished his master’s degree in 2018 at the University of Colorado, Boulder with an MM in Jazz Performance and Pedagogy. Zimny has performed with a multitude of artists in Denver and California He has also taught low brass for the Blue Knights Drum and Bugle Corps and Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps, and is currently in the Broncos Stampede Brass Band and the Avalanche Celly Squad. Jonathan has worked for Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts since 2018 teaching middle school combos and big bands, and helps put on programs such as Jazz Boot Camp, Jazz in the Sangres, the CCJA Street Band, and Denver Day of Jazz.