NewsUpper SchoolStudent LifeFaculty/StaffAlumniAdvancementServiceFine Arts
Rival to coach: Whitfield adds dimension to art programs
Jan 14, 2004 8:00 AM
By Stefan Eady - Faculty
Jason Whitfield returns for a second year to share his vocal and drama talents with Upper School chorus members and musical theatre students. “It is funny to be working at a rival school,” Whitfield, a Model High School graduate, said. While in high school, he competed with Darlington in literary and academic events.
After high school, Whitfield attended Shorter College where he received a bachelor’s degree in music education and then received a master’s degree in music from University of Tennessee. Following college, he was an entertainer at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., worked with musical artist Lee Greenwood, and then taught at Walters State Community College, Tenn.
Whitfield came to Darlington this year having just returned from the Mediterranean after an 18-month tour as a singer on the Celebrity Cruise Ship. Dan Bishop, Upper School instructor and Fine Arts Department chair, solicits Whitefield’s help for the choral and musical theatre programs whenever he can. “I work like a voice teacher giving individual attention whenever needed,” Whitfield said. “With Cinderella, I am trying to improve the students’ understanding of their roles and give them a fresh set of ideas about how to approach their acting.”
He will work with Darlington through the end of January and then return for the production week of Cinderella. “I may come back and do some master classes later in the school year as well,” he said.
“Dan [Bishop] and Marisa [Ortega] have given me a number of wonderful opportunities to work here,” Whitfield said. “The Darlington students I’ve worked with have been great and the School is very accommodating about bringing in outside talent to complement class instruction.”
After high school, Whitfield attended Shorter College where he received a bachelor’s degree in music education and then received a master’s degree in music from University of Tennessee. Following college, he was an entertainer at Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., worked with musical artist Lee Greenwood, and then taught at Walters State Community College, Tenn.
Whitfield came to Darlington this year having just returned from the Mediterranean after an 18-month tour as a singer on the Celebrity Cruise Ship. Dan Bishop, Upper School instructor and Fine Arts Department chair, solicits Whitefield’s help for the choral and musical theatre programs whenever he can. “I work like a voice teacher giving individual attention whenever needed,” Whitfield said. “With Cinderella, I am trying to improve the students’ understanding of their roles and give them a fresh set of ideas about how to approach their acting.”
He will work with Darlington through the end of January and then return for the production week of Cinderella. “I may come back and do some master classes later in the school year as well,” he said.
“Dan [Bishop] and Marisa [Ortega] have given me a number of wonderful opportunities to work here,” Whitfield said. “The Darlington students I’ve worked with have been great and the School is very accommodating about bringing in outside talent to complement class instruction.”
