John Whitaker

John Whitaker holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Texas Tech University, a Master of Music from the University of Houston, and a Graduate Academic Certificate in Arts Leadership from the University of North Texas.Currently, John is pursuing a DMA degree in Horn Performance at the University of North Texas.

As a professional hornist, he has performed with the orchestras of El Paso, Lubbock, Roswell, Woodlands, Midland-Odessa, Abilene, and San Angelo. He has studied horn with Anthony Brittin, Nancy Goodearl, Bruce Henniss and William Scharnberg.

As an educator, John has taught horn for over twenty years.He has served as adjunct faculty at Odessa College, Abilene Christian University, and was a Teaching Fellow at the University of North Texas from 2006-2009. Currently he is adjunct horn instructor at Hardin-Simmons University and teaches privately in the Abilene area.

As an administrator, John was the Personnel Manager/Education Director for the Midland-Odessa Symphony and Chorale from 2004-2006. And in 2009, he completed the Robert and Ruby Priddy Fellowship in Arts Leadership Program at the University of North Texas.Currently, John is the Operations Manager and Education Director for the Abilene Philharmonic Orchestra.

In his copious amount of free time, John enjoys movies, yoga, meditation, reading about ancient civilizations and practicing his French horn.