Pharez Whitted, instructor of trumpet in the NIU School of Music’s Jazz Studies program is one of the newest inductees into the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Hall of Fame. Whitted is also director of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra Jazz Orchestra, coordinates the Chicago division of J@LC Let Freedom Swing program, serves a clinician for the J@LC Essentially Ellington program, serves on the board of directors for Jazz Education Network (JEN) and as jazz mentor for the Jazz Scholar Program, part of Ravinia Reach, Teach Play program.
Whitted was inducted into the Stoneridge High School (Indianapolis, Indiana) Hall of Fame in 2017 and was recognized by the Alumni Association of DePauw University (Greencastle, Indiana) in 2018. Whitted earned his Master of Music from the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, and has taught at Ohio State University and Chicago State before coming to NIU.
Whitted is a performer, educator, composer, producer and clinician who has recorded five albums. He has performed with such notable musicians as Banford Marsalis, George Duke, Elvin Jones, Kirk Whalum, John Mellencamp, Nancy Wilson, Meshell Ndegeocellow, Chaka Khan and Slide Hampton.
The induction ceremony for the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Hall of Fame will be held Thursday, May 7 at 6 p.m. at The Cabaret in Indianapolis. Other inductees include vocalist Wendy Reed, pianist and organist Kevin Anker and drummer/percussionist Jozell Carter.
