Esther Kalunde powered her way through the preliminary rounds of the 2004-2005 Kipawa Gospel Talent Search, making it all the way to the finals.
With electrifying stage presence and powerful vocals, she emerged as a joint winner of the talent search, and was rewarded with a recording contract, culminating into her debut album.
Born in Thika, Esther has four siblings; 2 brothers and 2 sisters. She attended the Mugumoini Primary School and thereafter Saint Xavier's High School before joining the Nairobi institute of Business Studies to pursue I.T. She is currently teaching I.T at a local Muslim secondary school in Nairobi
An accomplished piano, trumpet and guitar player, Esther started singing from at a tender age while still in sunday school. She gave her life to Christ in 1995 during a high school challenge weekend.
Music seems to run in her veins, with her whole family involved in music at different levels. Both her parents are avid instrumentalists, and she credits them for her interest in music.
Currently a worship leader at the All-Nations Gospel Church in Nairobi's Dandora suburb, she admits that she has to be 'overly organized' in order to find time to record, attend practice sessions for her worship team and at the same time do her lesson plans for the next school day.
Being a teacher in a muslim school comes with its challenges. Even though she is not allowed to share her testimony freely, her hope is that through her godly lifestyle she can be an example to her students, and that they would experience Jesus through her. She states the words of 2 Corinthians 2:15 as a motivation.
'For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.' 2 Cor 2:15
Her debut performance was at a concert in Thika with the song 'Never Alone'. She produced her first song, ' Pokea Sifa' at Hitscore Records with producer Gideon Kimanzi. On her debut album, Esther has worked with Kanjii Mbugua of Kijiji 
Records and Gideon kimanzi. The 14 track Afro-fusion coastal Zouk album brings a fresh new feel to the industry. The album has 13 Swahili and Kamba tracks, heavily laced with African percussions.
One can easily tell that Esther draws great inspiration from both the scriptures and her dear mother, who has been a steady and positive influence on her. In addition, she admits to learning alot from seasoned performer and music teacher Hellen Mtwali.
Esther looks at her entry into the Kipawa Gospel Talent Search as God ordained, as this was the avenue through which she recorded her debut album. For this she is grateful to David Makuyu, who supported and encouraged her constantly.
Breaking into new frontiers with her Afro-fusion Coastal Zouk she intends to reach the coastal inhabitants and people of the islands with God-filled music that they can easily identify with.
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