Noteworthy: Pittsburgh City Council honored Nikki Thorpe with a proclamation recognizing her for organizing community events, concerts and “having a passion to lead people in praise and worship.”
Age: 49
Residence: Shaler
Family: Husband, Chris; daughter, Christin, 22; and two sons, Nikolas, 19, and Chris Jr., 16
Occupation: Minister of music at the Northside Institutional Church and executive assistant to the chief operating officer at the Coalition for Christian Outreach in East Liberty
Education: Bachelor's degree in business and organizational communication at the University of Akron, 1987. She has also completed graduate work in counseling at Duquesne University.
Background: Thorpe solicited the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra to collaborate with black vocalists for the orchestra's first Tribute to African American Heroes concert and served on the orchestra's advisory board. She has toured in Europe as a vocalist with the New Millennium Gospel Singers and has done background vocals for several artists. She is a member of the Gospel Heritage Foundation and was a founding member of the Jordanaires singing group of Mansfield, Ohio.
Quote: “I was totally shocked, humbled and thankful to receive such a wonderful proclamation from the city where I serve.”
