Whitney Farris O’Neal, a native of Jonesboro,
Arkansas, joined the faculty of UNA as flute instructor in 2012. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education with
University Honors from Arkansas State University (2006) where she studied with Joe
Bonner. While attending ASU, O’Neal
performed with the Delta Symphony Orchestra, Arkansas State University
Orchestra, and performed as a featured soloist with the Arkansas State
University Wind Ensemble. She completed
a Master of Music in Flute Performance (2009) and a Doctor of Musical Arts
degree in Flute Performance with a secondary emphasis in Musicology (2012) from
the University of Alabama, where she studied with Dr. Diane Boyd Schultz. Performance credits include the Huxford
Symphony Orchestra, UA Contemporary Ensemble, Starkville (MS) Symphony, and
Shoals Symphony. She was Instructor of
Woodwinds at Stillman College (2010-2011) and served as Flute Instructor at Mississippi
State University in the fall of 2010. She
was selected to perform in the National Flute Association’s Professional Flute
Choir in 2009, 2011, and 2012 at conventions in New York City, Charlotte, and Las
Vegas, and has performed in masterclasses given by Mary Karen Clardy, Maxim
Rubtsov, and Christine Earlander Beard. Developed
from their love of chamber music, the Delta Duo was founded by O’Neal and
harpist Sarah Crocker in 2008. The duo can
frequently be seen in concert, having recently performed in recital at
Mississippi State University and as feature performers at the 2011 and 2012
Kentucky Flute Festivals. In August 2011, the Delta Duo performed the
Alabama premiere of Anne LeBaron’s Solar
Music, and in April 2012 they performed at the prestigious Second Saturday
at Two Concert Series at St. James Chapel in Chicago. O’Neal was also selected as a winner in the
Convention Performers Competition in August 2012 and performed on a recital of
newly published music at the National Flute Association convention.
One Harrison Plaza