Valerie Wharton is currently the assistant percussion director of the Lebanon Trail High School cluster in Frisco, Texas. Valerie directs the percussion programs at Fowler and Clark Middle Schools and assists with the percussion program at Lebanon Trail High School. 

A native of Chicago, Valerie Wharton began her percussion studies under the direction of Vern Spevak and Ben Wahlund. She moved to Fort Worth to began her studies in music education at Texas Christian University and completed her undergraduate degree as a pupil of Dr. Brian West, Dr. Richard Gipson, Jeffery Hodge, Joseph Carter, Dr. Dave Hall, and Dr. Andrew Eldridge. 

Valerie performed with several high-profile ensembles at both the national and international level, including a showcase concert at PASIC, tours with the Crossmen and the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum Corps, a winter drumline season with Vigilantes Indoor Percussion, and a concert with the International Festival of Winds and Percussion at the Sydney Opera House. At TCU, she performed in the award-winning percussion ensemble, wind band, symphony orchestra, steel band, and marching band. 

As an educator, Valerie is sought after throughout the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex as an adjudicator and clinician. She has worked extensively with notable percussion programs throughout DFW including Berkner HS, Richland HS, Keller HS, Plano West HS, North Mesquite HS, Southwest HS, Eaton HS, Poteet HS, Creekview HS, and University of Texas at Arlington. She served on staff with the Vigilantes Indoor Percussion in 2017 and Oregon Crusaders in 2018.