Scott Whitfield

Scott Whitfield was born in Tucson, Arizona in 1953 and began playing banjo at the age of 12. He had his own band in elementary school that played for parties. He played banjo in a six piece Dixieland band for school functions throughout junior high and high school. He was also a member of the top performing musical organizations in high school, the band, choir, and the jazz band. He sang, played the uke, five-string banjo, tenor banjo, guitar, clarinet, bass clarinet, Eb Contrabass clarinet and double Bb Contrabass Clarinet. He began giving music lessons at the age of 15 and began his career as a professional musician at 17.

He attended Midwestern State University and graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree in 1977 with a major in Theory and Composition and his primary instrument of performance was clarinet. Scott worked his way through school playing music, directing church choirs and teaching lessons. He hasn�t changed much in over 30 years since he picked up that uke in 5th grade.

In 1978 he moved to the Dallas area where he took over a music company and built it into a successful business. At ScottSound Music all lessons are taught by qualified instructors with strong music education backgrounds in voice, piano, keyboards, guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass, percussion, brass, woodwinds, theory, arranging, and composition.

Scott is currently band director at Solomon Schechter Academy in north Dallas. In 2001, he made over 450 appearances translating into over 250 gigs. He also teaches 35 private students weekly.

He has authored two banjo methods, produced five recordings and has been recorded on many others. He has served on the faculty of the Tennessee Banjo Institute and is currently Dean of the International Banjo College. His band, the JazzCats, has opened for Pete Fountain, K.C. and the Sunshine Band, and has played concerts at numerous festivals, fairs and corporate events. Scott has also played for Bob Hope, Miss America, the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and numerous local and national dignitaries.

He has performed at banjo conventions from coast to coast and has headlined The Sacramento Banjorama and the Banjoes of Michigan Jubilee. His workshops are well received around the country and he has students that travel great distances to study with him.