Diane White-Clayton

A native of Washington, DC, White-Clayton studied classical piano at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris, performing solo Gospel concerts throughout Europe as an Ambassador of Goodwill. Her roots grounded in gospel, she travels extensively as a composer, conductor and performer. She has served as Artistic Director with the Washington Performing Arts Society; Artist-in-Residence at Appalachian State University; Artist-in-Residence at Westmont College; Composer-in-Residence at Indiana University of Pennsylvania; Scholar-in-Residence at Grinnell College; Choral Conductor at the New Christ Memorial Church under the legendary Andraé Crouch; Professor at Loyola Marymount University; Choral Conductor at the 6,000-member Faithful Central Bible Church, where she founded the acclaimed Sacred Praise Chorale; Vocal Workshop Clinician with the Disney Performing Arts Conservatory; and Artistic Director of the famed Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers and the musically-diverse BYTHAX Ensemble. White-Clayton's compositions are globally performed at such venues as the John F. Kennedy Center, Air Canada Centre, and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Whether arrangements of African or Korean folk song, atonal classical works, Afro-American spirituals, inspirational sacred pieces or her celebrated arrangement of the Hatikvah, Diane's compositions and performances demonstrate a mélange of the power of gospel music, the technique of classical music, and the colors of jazz.