Pharez Whitted
Trumpeter
Inducted into the Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame in 2026
Pharez Whitted
(August 26, 1960 - Present)
Pharez has performed throughout the United States and overseas, including performances at Presidential Inaugurations, The Arsenio Hall Show, The Billboard Music Awards, Carnegie Hall and major jazz festivals throughout the country to name a few. 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, Chicago State University and most recently Northern Illinois University. He is also 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 and Slide Hampton.
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 an Alumni Citation from DePauw University 2018.
Pharez is Professor of Jazz Trumpet at Northern Illinois University
Director of the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra (CYSO) Jazz Orchestra
Coordinator of the Chicago division of the J@LC Let Freedom Swing program
Clinician for the J@LC Essentially Ellington Program
Jazz Mentor for the Jazz Scholar Program part of the Ravinia Reach, Teach Play Program
On the Board of Directors for Jazz Education Network (JEN)
Recordings
Pharez Whitted MoJazz Records
Mysterious Cargo. MoJazz Records
Transient Journey Owl Studios
For The People Origin Records
The Tree of Life Truth Revolution Records
Pharaoh Smooth. Get Whitted Music
Thank you for visiting the Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame.
Provided by the Indianapolis Jazz Foundation Legacy Program, with support from:
