In August 2021, Naomi Classik brought one of gospel music’s greatest voices to Nigeria for three days of intensive vocal training. What happened in that room is still being talked about
There are events that entertain. And then there are events that alter the course of a career, a calling, a life. The Singers Boot Camp held from August 11 to 13, 2021, in Lagos, Nigeria, was firmly the second kind.
Organised by Classik Empire and led by two of gospel music’s most formidable vocal forces — Naomi Classik and American gospel powerhouse Kim Burrell — the three-day intensive was not a concert, not a seminar, not a casual gathering. It was a serious, structured, transformative training experience that brought world-class vocal coaching to Nigerian soil and told every singer who walked through the door something they needed to hear: you are worth investing in.
The boot camp ran for three full days of intense vocal training sessions, drawing participants from across Nigeria and beyond — because registration was open to those outside the country too. At a fee of N50,000, it was not a small commitment. But for those who attended, it was one they have never regretted.
In this interview, Naomi Classik reflects on what made the boot camp historic, what Kim Burrell brought to the room, and why she believes that kind of investment in singers is not optional — it is urgent.
IN HER OWN WORDS
The 2021 Singers Boot Camp was a landmark event. Where did the idea come from?
The idea came from a deep conviction that Nigerian singers — gospel singers especially — deserve access to world-class training on their own soil. Too often, the assumption is that you have to travel abroad to receive excellence. I wanted to break that narrative completely. I wanted to bring the excellence here.
Why Kim Burrell? What made her the right person to bring into this space?
Kim Burrell is not just a great singer. She is a vocal institution. Her range, her technique, her ability to communicate through sound — she operates at a level that very few artists in the world reach. I wanted our singers to sit across from someone who represents the absolute peak of what a voice can do, and I wanted them to learn from her directly. There is something that happens in a room like that — something that no YouTube video or online course can replicate. Presence matters. Mastery in the room matters.
What was the atmosphere like when the boot camp began?
Electric. There was anticipation, excitement, and also a healthy nervousness — because everyone there knew this was not going to be a soft experience. We came to work. And from the very first session, the tone was set. This was a space of serious development, serious instruction, and serious transformation.
What aspects of vocal training did the boot camp focus on?
We covered the full spectrum. Breath control, resonance, register transition, tonal placement, performance presence, emotional delivery — nothing was left out. We worked on the mechanics of the voice, but we also worked on the inner world of the singer. Because a voice is only as powerful as the conviction behind it. Kim brought her own dimension to each area, and the combination of our approaches gave participants a very complete experience.
What did Kim Burrell bring to the training that perhaps surprised even you?
Her generosity. She gave everything. She was not holding back, not teaching at a surface level — she went deep. She shared things from her own journey, her own struggles with her voice, her own breakthroughs. That kind of openness from someone of her stature was extraordinary. It gave every participant permission to be honest about where they were and hungry for where they could go.
The boot camp was open to participants outside Nigeria. Was that a deliberate statement?
Absolutely. The vision was never just local. Classik Empire exists to raise vocal excellence globally, and from day one we wanted this event to reflect that. People came from different regions because the standard we were offering was worth the journey. That international dimension made the room richer — different backgrounds, different styles, all coming together around the shared pursuit of excellence.
What kind of transformation did you witness in participants over those three days?
Remarkable ones. Singers who came in with technical limitations left with tools they had never had before. Singers who came in confident discovered new layers they had not yet accessed. But beyond the technical, the biggest transformation was in belief. People left that boot camp believing they were capable of more. That shift in identity — from a singer who doubts to a singer who knows — is the most powerful thing any training can produce.
What feedback did you receive after the event?
The responses were overwhelming. Participants said it was the most impactful training experience they had ever had. Several went on to apply what they learned in their churches, their ministries, their professional careers. Some reached out months later to say that specific things they were taught in that boot camp had directly changed the trajectory of their vocal journey. That is the measure of success for me — not how full the room was, but what people did when they left it.
Do you plan to bring that kind of event back?
Without question. The Singers Boot Camp is not a one-time moment — it is a model. What we built in August 2021 proved that this kind of training is needed, it is wanted, and it produces real results. The next edition will be even bigger, even more structured, and even more impactful. We are building something that will become a landmark annual event for gospel and Christian music on the continent.
What would you say to a singer who is considering investing in that kind of training but is hesitant?
I would say: your hesitation is costing you more than the investment ever would. Every day you wait is a day your voice remains where it is instead of where it could be. The singers who attended that boot camp made a decision to take themselves seriously. And that decision changed them. Make the same decision. Your voice is worth it. Your calling is worth it. Do not wait for a perfect moment — invest in yourself now.
ABOUT THE SINGERS BOOT CAMP
The Singers Boot Camp was a three-day intensive vocal training programme held from August 11 to 13, 2021, in Lagos, Nigeria. Organised by Classik Empire and facilitated by Naomi Classik and Kim Burrell, the event offered participants world-class training in vocal technique, performance, and artistry.
Registration was open to participants within Nigeria and internationally.
ABOUT NAOMI CLASSIK
Naomi Onorakposeha Oruaro, known professionally as Naomi Classik, is a Lagos-based global vocal coach, music minister, and founder of Classik Empire. She is the 2024 recipient of the GOMAN Vocal Coach of the Year award. She has trained singers across Africa, Europe, and beyond, and continues to build platforms for vocal excellence at the highest level.
