Gospel & Spirituals that Fueled the Civil Rights Movement
The BYTHAX Ensemble
Diane White-Clayton (“Dr. Dee") is a classically-trained soprano, pianist, conductor and composer. Originally from Washington, DC, she holds a Ph.D. and M.A. in Music Composition from the University of California, Santa Barbara and a B.A. in Music from Washington University in St. Louis. She studied in Paris, France as a Rotary Scholar, representing the United States as an Ambassador of Goodwill. A faculty member at the University of California, Los Angeles, White-Clayton is also the former Artistic Director of the famed Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers and the Founding Director of the BYTHAX Ensemble, a professional, musically-diverse vocal group. The body of her music embraces nuances of soulful gospel, colorful jazz harmonies and classical precisions with a passion to touch the depths of our humanity. A Baptist preacher’s daughter, she has held various university and church positions and travels extensively as artist, conductor, and educator. She is an author, speaker, producer and recording artist, as well as a teaching artist for the Walt Disney Corporation. She owns a publishing and artists support company with her husband and best friend, famed R&B percussionist, Joe Clayton.
The BYTHAX Ensemble is a collective of performers with outstanding artistry who desire to serve God and humanity with their musical gifts. Under the direction of Dr. Diane White-Clayton, the ensemble features her original works as well as a vast array of music ranging from gospel to classical. Dr. Dee & BYTHAX impart transformative experiences that heal the heart and inspire the soul. Comprised of choir directors, teachers, ministers, recording artists and business professionals, they are united by their commitment to integrity, faith, and their love of music.
The BYTHAX Ensemble's Athenaeum performance is the 2026 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Event.
The BYTHAX Ensemble's Athenaeum performance is also part of a 4-part musical series for this academic year: Devotional and Spiritual World Music featuring Ghanian, South Asian, American Gospel, and Brazilian traditions.