Northern Illinois University
School of Music
College of Visual and Performing Arts

Pharez Whitted

Instructor

Pharez has performed throughout the United States and overseas, including performances at:

• Presidential Inaugurations
• The Arsenio Hall Show
• The Billboard Music Awards
• Carnegie Hall
• Major jazz festivals throughout the country
• And more

Whitted studied music at DePauw University and went on to earn a master’s degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. He has taught at prestigious colleges and universities such as Wabash College, The Ohio State University and most recently Chicago State University.

He is currently the Director of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestras (CYSO) Jazz Orchestra. Whitted has performed with such notable musicians such as:

• Branford Marsalis
• George Duke
• Elvin Jones
• Kirk Whalum
• John Mellencamp
• Nancy Wilson
• Meshell Ndegeocello
• Chaka Khan
• Slide Hampton
• Jon Faddis

Pharez is a performer, educator, composer, producer, clinician and was nominated for Independent Jazz Artist of the year in 2011. He has two CDs that were released on the MoTown Jazz Label (MoJazz) and three other recently released CDs on various labels.

Pharez was recently named Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz for 2016 and inducted into the Shortridge High School Hall of Fame 2017. Recently was awarded the Alumni Citation from DePauw University 2018.

Positions

• Coordinator of the Chicago division of the Jazz @ Lincoln Center (J@LC) Jazz and Democracy program
• Clinician for J@LC Essentially Ellington Program
• Jazz Mentor for the Jazz Scholar Program (part of the Ravinia Reach, Teach Play Program)
• The Jazz Education Network (JEN) Board of Directors