In light of seasonal spirit, singer Judy Whitmore recently released a Christmas album. The project features covers of her favorite holiday songs and her single “The Ghost of Christmas Past,” a heartfelt sentiment to loved ones. Whitmore is also a dedicated community leader in the arts. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Pacific Symphony and volunteers her time as a member of the Board of Directors of Pacific Jazz Orchestra, Backhaus Dance, and The OC World Affairs Council. To learn more about Judy Whitmore and her new Christmas album, read on.

Where are you based?
Okay, I know this sounds like a song title, but “I Love L.A.” I lived in Aspen for ten years and in London for two years, but there’s no place like Southern California!

What first made you fall in love with music?
I grew up in a home that was filled with music. My grandfather was a violinist in the MGM Studio Orchestra and played on the soundtracks of all the great musicals. Grandma was a pianist... so was my mother and her sister. I started piano lessons when I was five years old. I loved to sing, and I knew the lyrics to all of Judy Garland’s songs. My brother and I would put on shows in the living room for anyone who would watch.

Your career hasn’t always been focused around music, you were a volunteer pilot for search and rescue missions with Aspen Air Rescue, became a Learjet Captain, pursued writing, and have even had your own private clinical psychology practice. What led you back to music?
A friend of mine wanted to do a show to celebrate her 40th birthday. She wanted to sing and asked if I would sing with her. We had so much fun rehearsing with the pianist that when her birthday was over, we took a Musical Theater class together. More classes, more vocal coaching, several recitals and that led to the formation of the trio Act Three, and our first album.

Congratulations on your new holiday album ‘Christmas’! What was the inspiration behind choosing to make a holiday album?
It never entered my mind to do a Christmas album until this Spring. I was recording my album “Let’s Fall in Love” and was in the control room with Steve Genewick, the recording engineer, and Chris Walden. Steve said to Chris, “You know, Judy should do a Christmas album.” I thought, “What a great idea.” And the rest is history.

Your recent single “The Ghost of Christmas Past” is an extremely sentimental ballad. What is the story behind this song?
It usually takes me a couple of months to create a song list for an album. We had chosen eleven songs for the Christmas album, and I loved each one...but we still needed one more tune. I was in the studio with Michael Orland trying song after song when he said, “I wrote a Christmas song with my friend Jamie Wooten.” Michael printed out the music and the first time I sang the song I knew we’d found the final song. I had to sing it about a dozen times before I could get through it without crying. The song evokes precious memories of long forgotten but significant and valuable family experiences.

The album features several covers of popular Christmas songs. How did you go about choosing which songs you wanted to cover and how did you make them your own?
This may sound strange, but I wanted to record a Christmas album where every song was my “favorite.” I chose songs that just felt “right” when I sang them. Chris’s gorgeous arrangements and orchestrations made them all unique.

You currently serve on the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of Pacific Symphony. Can you tell us a bit about what this committee does and how you’re involved?
Pacific Symphony will soon be celebrating its 50th anniversary. It was the last Tier 1 orchestra to be formed in the United States. This means we’re on the same level as the New York Philharmonic, the L.A. Phil, the San Francisco Symphony, the Cleveland Philharmonic, Chicago Philharmonic, etc. Our world-class musicians have toured to Europe, China, played at Carnegie Hall in New York, and have been the subject of a PBS special. Serving on the Executive Committee puts me at the heart of the workings of this extraordinary organization. I have chaired several of their Galas and Opening Nights. I have volunteered in numerous capacities.

You have also been a member of several different councils, including the Board of Directors of Pacific Jazz Orchestra, Backhaus Dance, and The OC World Affairs Council. Why is it important to you to get involved with these committees? What are some of the ways these committees support the arts?
My parents stressed the importance of volunteering and philanthropy. They served on many non-profit boards and taught their children to do the same. I am particularly enjoying my involvement with Pacific Jazz Orchestra. It’s a new orchestra...in its third season now. Their concerts are electrifying! This coming summer they will have their first youth summer jazz program. Forty students studying with forty orchestra members for two weeks… culminating in a concert. That should be fabulous!

What are some ways our readers can support the arts?
You can become a volunteer. Most non-profits welcome volunteers and offer volunteer training. When you buy a ticket to a symphony concert or a play, the cost of the ticket usually covers around 60% of the cost of the performance. So, if you can afford it, make a donation to your local orchestra, theater, or museum.

What advice do you have for young girls looking to pursue a career in the arts?
I saw this great quote on Pinterest –” There is no elevator to success. You have to take the stairs.” So, my advice is keep climbing.

Are there any upcoming projects you are currently working on that we should be on the lookout for?
Right now, I am working on a new book. After the first of the year, I’ll start putting together a song list for my new “big band” album.

It has been a crazy few years, and we expect at least four more. How have you been staying positive?
When I moved to Aspen, Colorado a friend said to me, “If you don’t like the weather, stick around for 30 minutes...it will change.” That’s my current thought about the political winds...they will change.

What is your motto in life?
“It’s never too late to be what you might have been.” I love this quote. I think it’s the reason I’ve had so many careers. It’s attributed to George Eliot, but could have been written by someone else.

To learn more about Judy Whitmore, please check out the links below:
Pacific Symphony
Pacific Jazz Orchestra

www.judywhitmore.com
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Judy Whitmore Shares Seasonal Spirit