Dr. Emma Whitten is an organist and educator whose repertoire spans eight centuries, with a particular interest in early Baroque and contemporary music. She performs throughout the United States and internationally and teaches organ at Irvine Valley College.

Whitten serves as Associate Organist at Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, home of the Hazel Wright Organ, where she plays for major liturgies and accompanies the Diocesan Choir. She is also Director of Music at Community Church Congregational in Corona del Mar and teaches organ performance, music history, and church music at Concordia University Irvine. 

Her performances include appearances at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, the Spreckels International Organ Festival in San Diego, the Eccles Organ Festival in Salt Lake City, and the dedication celebrations for the restored Hazel Wright Organ. Internationally, she has performed on historic organs in Germany, Spain, Colombia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom. 

Her debut recording, Hazel Is Back!, was released by Gothic Records in 2022 to celebrate the restoration of the Hazel Wright Organ. An advocate for women composers, she features their work in recitals and workshops, including performances of major works by Pamela Decker. 

Whitten maintains a private teaching studio for organists of all ages and levels. She adjudicates scholarship auditions and competitions, including the American Guild of Organists’ regional competitions, and has served as a faculty member and featured performer for Pipe Organ Encounters. 

She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts in Organ Performance at Arizona State University, studying with Kimberly Marshall. She also holds a Master of Music from the University of Kansas and a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Notre Dame.