MEET THE SOLOIST: Jon Kimura Parker, piano

Pianist Jon Kimura Parker performs Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F
April 9, 2022 at 8PM

Background:

Jon Kimura Parker studied with Edward Parker and Keiko Parker, Lee Kum-Sing at the Vancouver Academy of Music and the University of British Columbia, Marek Jablonski at the Banff Centre, and Adele Marcus at The Juilliard School. After winning the Gold Medal at the 1984 Leeds International Piano Competition, Parker has gone on to become an Officer of the Order of Canada and to receive honorary doctorates from the University of British Columbia and the Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto.

Highlights:

• Parker’s discography of a dozen albums features music ranging from Mozart and Chopin to Barber and Stravinsky. His most recent recording Fantasy, built around Schubert’s “Wanderer” Fantasy, was described by Musical Toronto as giving “a big, clear picture window of a rich soul and great artistic depth.” His YouTube channel features a series of Concerto Chat videos, which explore the piano concerto repertoire.

• Jon was recently named Creative Partner for the Minnesota Orchestra’s Summer at Orchestra Hall, serves as the Artistic Director for the Honens International Piano Competition and Artistic Advisor for the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, and is on the faculty of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University.

• A collaborator in a wide variety of styles, Jon Kimura Parker has performed with Doc Severinsen, Audra McDonald, Bobby McFerrin, Pablo Ziegler, and Sanjaya Malakar. As a founding member of Off the Score he also performed with Stewart Copeland – the legendary drummer of The Police – for the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival’s 20th Anniversary Season, featuring his own arrangements of music by Prokofiev, Ravel, and Stravinsky. In addition, he performs widely throughout North America and Europe with the Montrose Trio (together with violinist Martin Beaver and cellist Clive Greensmith).

Critical Praise:

• "Mr. Parker was an insightful, energetic soloist...the audience roared in approval.” The New York Times
• "The final work was the magnificent Beethoven Piano Concerto No. 4, Op. 58. Jon Kimura Parker was the soloist. This is his first year on the faculty here, and judging from his playing and the audience’s scream of approval, he will be welcomed back anytime." Sarasota Herald-Tribune
• “Absolutely top-notch music-making, as fine as one could ever expect to hear…they (the Montrose Trio) are poised to become one of the top piano trios in the world..” Washington Post

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