About Clay Whittington

Clay Whittington has been praised for his musical artistry and showmanship in both popular and cultivated genres. As a vocalist, his recent work includes performances with East Carolina University Opera Theater and Carnival Cruise Line. Clay has served as a church musician in the United Methodist and Episcopal denominations for much of the last two decades. In this role, he has conducted choral and instrumental ensembles in North Carolina, California, and Arizona. Outside of regular worship services, he has lead music and worship at the North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, the Diocesan Convention for the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real, and a Revival for the Episcopal Diocese of El Camino Real, featuring Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend Michael Curry. 

From 2016 to 2018, Clay performed on nine ships in the Carnival Cruise Line fleet, earning Carnival Entertainment’s Top Performer status prior to his departure. 

Clay received his A.F.A. in Music from Lenoir Community College (Kinston, NC) and his B.M. in Performance with a concentration in Sacred Music Vocal/Choral from East Carolina University (Greenville, NC). During his undergraduate studies, Clay performed with the internationally renowned East Carolina University Chamber Singers and East Carolina University Opera Theatre. In the fall of 2022, he will continue with graduate studies in vocal performance at the University of Arizona (Tucson, AZ). In 2022, he was inducted into the Beta Zeta Chapter of the Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society.

Clay is an active member of the American Guild of Organists, the American Choral Directors Association, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.