Jeff Whitaker

Jeff Whitaker is in his 24th year of teaching and 13th year as Director of Bands at Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. Under his leadership, the MOJO Band has consistently excelled, earning multiple UIL Area and State Marching Contest qualifications. The band has been a Bands of America (BOA) Regional Finalist for seven consecutive seasons and was a finalist at the Duncanville Marching Invitational in both 2019 and 2022.

During Mr. Whitaker’s tenure, the Permian Band has earned the UIL Sweepstakes Award every year and expanded into five concert bands, all of which have earned Division I ratings. The Permian Symphonic Band was nationally recognized with a Featured Performance at the 2019 Music for All National Festival in Indianapolis.

Mr. Whitaker is only the fifth Director of Bands in Permian High School’s history. He is an active adjudicator and clinician across Texas and New Mexico. Prior to his time at Permian, he served for eight years as Director of Bands at Monahans High School, where his ensembles qualified for the UIL State Marching Contest three times and earned 3rd place in the 2007 Texas Honor Band Finals.

A music educator since 2001, Mr. Whitaker began his career in Midland, TX. He currently serves his eighth term as President of Region 6 for the Texas Music Educators Association and is the Region 6 Representative for the Texas Bandmasters Association. He is a member of the Alpha Chapter of Phi Beta Mu, the International Bandmasters’ Fraternity, and was honored as the 2020 Permian High School Master Teacher of the Year.