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About Clay Whittington

Clay Whittington
Clay Whittington
Music Teacher, Master
Location: Tucson, AZ
Speaks: English
Instructs: Music Theory, Piano, Voice
Education: Bachelor of Music in Sacred Music Vocal, East Carolina University; Associate in Fine Arts in Music, Lenoir Community College
Performance Experience: Current Director of Music Ministries at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Tucson, pianist/vocalist at the Gaslight Theatre, chorister with the Helios Ensemble and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus. Former Piano Bar Entertainer with Carnival Cruise Line. Former Director of Music Ministries for multiple churches in the Episcopal and United Methodist traditions. Former organist for multiple congregations in the Reform Judaism tradition.
Teaching Experience: Over sixteen years of experience in private voice and piano instruction. Fifteen years of experience in vocal/choral direction and coaching for religious institutions and theatrical performance. Active Member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS), Member No. 698480.
Teaching Philosophy: As a longtime performer, Clay believes in creating a studio that is fun, engaging and encourages performance. Clay brings together theory and technique to build a strong foundation, but always keeps the fun of performance in mind. Music is meant to be for everyone, and most importantly, is meant to be something students of all ages can enjoy. Clay is excited to teach, and to get students excited to show off the skills they learn!

Get to know Clay Whittington

Clay Whittington is an entertainer, vocalist, pianist, and conductor from eastern North Carolina. He serves as Director of Music Ministries for Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Tucson, Arizona, leading a variety of musical expressions in traditional and alternative worship forms. Clay has directed vocal and instrumental ensembles with Lenoir Community College, the Thalian Association, the Texas Panhandle Heritage Foundation, and sacred music programs in the Episcopal, United Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, and Reform Judaism traditions. As an entertainer, Clay maintains a full performance calendar which has included work with the Gaslight Theatre, the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Pebble Beach Resorts, The Cypress Inn, Fairmont Hotels, and Carnival Cruise Line.

As a professional chorister, Clay currently works with the Helios Ensemble. Past work has included performances and worship services with the Washington National Cathedral, the Carmel Bach Festival, and the Tucson Symphony Orchestra Chorus. He has performed under the direction of Dr. Benjamin Hansen, Dr. Marcela Molina, Maestro José Luis Gomez, Michael McCarthy, Simon Carrington, Dr. Andrew Megill, Maestro Paul Goodwin, and Dr. Daniel Bara.

Clay has served as the principal musician for churches in the United Methodist and Episcopal traditions for much of the last two decades. In these roles, 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 the Diocesan Convention for the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina.

Clay received his Bachelor of Music magna cum laude with a concentration in Sacred Music (Vocal/Choral) from East Carolina University, studying with Prof. John Kramar, Dr. James Franklin, and Prof. Andrew Scanlon. He also hold an Associate in Fine Arts degree in Music from Lenoir Community College. During his undergraduate studies, Clay performed with East Carolina University Opera Theatre and the internationally renowned East Carolina University Chamber Singers. 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.

Clay Whittington teaches at:
9630 E 22nd St Suite 130
Tucson, AZ 85748
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