By Lauren Mittleman
Features Editor
Junior Jack Whitney sings his heart out to be named a 2020 National YoungArts Foundation Merit Winner for his singing in the category of jazz music.
Whitney applied to the National Young-Arts Foundation Competition in October of 2019 and found out that he won the competition in December. Whitney’s prize was an invitation to an intensive week-long, all-inclusive program run by YoungArts that is filled with opportunities for him to improve, such as workshops and master classes that were led by internationally recognized leaders in their fields.
“The best part about winning is being a part of the young arts family and the satisfaction of being recognized in a large nationwide competition,” Whitney said.
Whitney decided to enter the YoungArts Foundation Competition because he really wanted to be a part of a huge, national competition with a high reputation and believes that it is an amazing opportunity, he said.
“I first started singing and performing music because I knew it was my passion from early on,” Whitney said. “I enjoy [singing and performing music] more than anything.”
Whitney has been singing for as long as he can remember and began playing the piano when he was in first grade. He has had professional training for the majority of his musical career to help him become a better musician.
“One hundred percent of the people that I have worked with have made me a better singer and better musician,” Whitney said. “I’ve looked up to [and] emulated all of my instructors to find my own sound and voice.”
Whitney grew up listening to mainly pop music, but his interests have grown over the years to R&B and jazz. Although he says that he likes listening to all types of music, his favorite type of music to sing is pop, and he has also grown to love singing jazz music as well.
“My favorite artists are Bruno Mars, Lewis Capaldi and Michael Jackson,” Whitney said. “My favorite song right now is ‘Leaving My Love Behind’ by Lewis Capaldi.”
Whitney is a member of the choir at Costa and is also in a band with a group of friends called Pier Pressure. Pier Pressure plays pop/rock music and has performed at The Lighthouse Café, Fiesta Hermosa, and The Standing Room.
“My favorite thing about performing is being up on stage, having fun, and knowing that there’s nothing I’d rather be doing,” Whitney said. “I wish to pursue a career in music because I love to sing and play music, and honestly I don’t think there’s a reason why you shouldn’t try to spend your life doing what you love doing.”
Whitney’s band has two songs coming out on Spotify on Feb. 7.
“The advice I have for musicians at Costa is to really make use of all the incredible people and teachers that Costa has to offer, and really take advantage of their advice and knowledge,” Whitney said. “Costa has an amazing music program and if music is something you love, then it is easy to shape a path at Costa that leads you toward music.”
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