Whit Sidener
Whit Sidener is professor emeritus and former chair of the Department of Studio Music and Jazz at the University of Miami. He retired in May 2013. Professor Sidener is a recipient of the IAJE Award for Outstanding Service to Jazz Education, and the Phillip Frost Award for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship. When under his direction, the Frost Concert Jazz Band recorded and toured extensively, appeared at ten IAJE Conferences and won 15 Downbeat Student Recording Awards. Sidener has recorded with such artists as Harry Chapin, Jose Feliciano, Aretha Franklin, Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Frankie Valli, Gloria Estefan and Luciano Pavarotti, to name a few. He has performed live with Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, Paul Anka, Johnny Mathis, Lou Rawls, Marlene Dietrich, Mel Torme, Rosemary Clooney, Sarah Vaughn, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Perry Como and Sammy Davis Jr. and Ray Charles. Whit Sidener played saxophones and flute on nine platinum albums, three platinum singles, and three gold singles with the Bee Gees, Andy Gibb and K.C. and the Sunshine Band. He appeared with the Bee Gees on two national tours and as a featured soloist with Bob James on his Around The Town tour.
"My RS Berkeley Virtuoso tenor, Volaré flute and alto flute are my go to instruments! Beautiful centered tones; flawless intonation; fast, well designed key setups. They are without a doubt among the best instruments I have played!"