Jackson Darby is a vocalist from Texas. He loves to delve into the why of his repertoire, bringing character and depth into every performance. He believes in music for music’s sake. That same belief drives his piano studies, deepening his love and understanding of music outside of the vocal realm. Mr. Darby’s recently made his professional debut with the East Texas Symphony Orchestra, singing arias from Carmen. His most notable roles include Dimitry from Anastasia: The Musical and Koko in The Mikado.  He has also prepared and presented Don Quichotte á Dulcinèe and 3 Shakespeare Songs for his East Texas audience.

Mr. Darby is a private student of Judith Shelton. He is currently completing his undergraduate degree in Music education at East Texas Baptist University.

As a collegiate athlete, Jackson competed with the Men’s Cross Country Team. That year, Jackson won the “Highest GPA” award for the team. He completed his first marathon in Dallas in December 2025, with a time of 3:58:49. Outside of music, you can find Jackson at a local coffee shop, running around campus, with his friends, or at home with his dog.

Music Philosophy

Holding the title of "music educator" is a privilege. As a music educator, I should give students the tools to not only sing, but also make music. Great music is made through a positive culture and decisive leadership. Every time we look at notes on a page brings an opportunity to enhance our musical abilities, turning us from players to musicians. Our goal should be to use our artistry to turn the ink into beauty—one crescendo, unified vowel, or percussive consonant at a time.