Dr. Diane White-Clayton
Composer - Soprano - Choral Director - Clinician
Speaker - Pianist - Minister
Biography
A native of Washington, DC, Diane L. White-Clayton holds a Ph.D. and MA in Music Composition from the University of California at Santa Barbara and BA in music from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri with emphases in Composition, Voice, and Piano. As a Rotary Scholar, she studied classical piano at the Ecole Normale de Musique in Paris performing solo Gospel concerts throughout Europe as an Ambassador of Goodwill.
Affectionately known as “Dr. Dee”, Diane travels extensively
as a vocalist, pianist, composer, conductor, workshop
clinician, and speaker. She has held numerous positions at
universities, colleges and churches across the country
including Artistic Director with the Washington Performing
Arts Society; Artist-in-Residence and Assistant Director of
African-American Student Development at Appalachian
State University; Artist-in-Residence at Westmont College;
Composer-in-Residence at Indiana University of Pennsylvania;
Scholar-in-Residence at Grinnell College in Grinnell, Iowa;
Loyola Marymount University; and Choral Conductor at the
New Christ Memorial Church under legendary Gospel great,
Pastor Andraé Crouch. For thirteen years, she was a Choral
Conductor at the 6,000-member Faithful Central Bible Church
in Inglewood, California under the headship of internationally
esteemed, Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer, where she founded the
acclaimed Sacred Praise Chorale.
Dr. Dee works as a Vocal Clinician Consultant with the Disney Performing Arts Conservatory in Anaheim, California. Possessing a three-and-a-half octave range, Diane weaves her high operatic soprano voice with her soulful gospel roots in her self-produced recordings. As a composer, her works have been performed at such venues as the John F. Kennedy Center, Carnegie Hall and the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, with her most popular piece being a choral work entitled “Clap Praise” which has been featured across the globe. Whether arrangements of African, Korean or African-American folk songs, her arrangement of the Hatikvah, her atonal classical works, or her inspirational sacred or gospel songs, Dr. Dee’s compositions and performances demonstrate a mélange of the power of gospel music, the technique of classical music and the colors of jazz.
An inspirational speaker and author, Dr. Dee combines an inviting genuineness with humor, eloquence and faith. Dr. Dee is a member of the faculty of the University of California, Los Angeles. She is founder and CEO of BYTHAX, a company committed to supporting artists in sacred and in secular arenas, through Christian counsel, mentoring, and networking with publishing, workshops, vocal coaching and live performances. She is the Artistic Director of the famed Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers, known for their international influence as classical performers of Negro Spirituals. And she is the Founding Director of “Dr. Dee & the BYTHAX Ensemble”, a gifted, musically-diverse, professional vocal ensemble. BYTHAX stands for “Bringing You Talented, Heavenly-minded Artists with eXcellence!” Diane is the author of “Journey to the Altar,” an encouragement for single women who are waiting for that special love, inspired by her own story. Diane is happily married to her best friend and business partner, Joe Louis Clayton, former recording and touring Motown R&B percussionist.
