 Christopher Parkening is celebrated as one of
the world’s preeminent virtuosos of the classical guitar. For over 40 years his
concerts and recordings have received the highest worldwide acclaim. The Washington Post cited his stature as
"the leading guitar virtuoso of our day, combining profound musical insight
with complete technical mastery of his instrument.” Parkening is recognized as
heir to the legacy of the great Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia, who proclaimed
that "Christopher Parkening is a great artist – he is one of the most brilliant
guitarists in the world.” The Los Angeles
Times has noted: "Parkening is considered America’s reigning classical
guitarist, carrying the torch of his mentor, the late Andrés Segovia.”
Parkening’s rare combination of dramatic virtuosity, eloquent musicianship and
uniquely beautiful sound has captivated audiences around the world. He has
performed at the White House,
appeared with Placido Domingo on Live
from Lincoln Center, participated in Carnegie
Hall’s 100th Anniversary celebration and performed twice on the
internationally televised Grammy®
Awards. Parkening has appeared on many nationally broadcast television
programs, including The Tonight Show,
Good Morning America, CBS Sunday Morning, The Today Show and 20/20. He
has collaborated with composers John Williams, Elmer Bernstein, Joaquín
Rodrigo, F. Morena Torroba and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco, and premiered new
concert works in an effort to keep the guitar in the musical forefront. He was
acknowledged as "Best Classical Guitarist” in the nationwide readers’ poll of Guitar Player Magazine for many consecutive years, and was placed in their Gallery of Greats along with Andrés
Segovia and English guitarists John Williams and Julian Bream.
Parkening has been guest soloist with the finest orchestras in the United
States, including the Philadelphia, Cleveland and Minnesota Orchestras, the
Chicago, Pittsburgh, and National Symphony Orchestras, the Detroit, Houston,
Oregon, and St. Louis symphonies, the New York Philharmonic, the St. Paul and
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestras, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the
Hollywood Bowl. His extensive recital schedule has taken him throughout the
country, with regular appearances in New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia,
Washington D.C., Houston and Los Angeles. Performance highlights include
appearances at the National Gallery with soprano Renée Fleming, Royal Albert
Hall in London with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and with John Williams,
Joshua Groban and the Boston Pops in a nationally televised broadcast for PBS.
Parkening has amassed an extensive discography on Angel/EMI Classics. He is the
recipient of two Grammy® nominations
in the category of Best Classical Recording for Parkening and the Guitar and The
Pleasures of Their Company, a collaboration with soprano Kathleen Battle.
In October of 2000, EMI debuted his recording of Elmer Bernstein’s Concerto for Guitar and Orchestra with
the London Symphony Orchestra, Elmer Bernstein conducting. In 1998 a
multi-media CD was released, Christopher
Parkening Celebrates Segovia. In
1996, Parkening and Battle combined their talents once again to record a
Christmas album titled Angels’ Glory for
Sony Classical. Other recordings include
the critically acclaimed orchestral recording of Joaquin Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez and Fantasia para un gentilhombre and the world premiere recording of
Walton’s Five Bagatelles for Guitar and
Orchestra, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra; and Parkening Plays Vivaldi, which features a selection of Baroque
concertos coupled with the world premiere recording of Peter Warlock's Capriol Suite with The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields. In honor of
Parkening’s 25th year as a recording artist with Angel/EMI Classics,
a 2-CD collection, The Great Recordings,
was issued in celebration of his prolific artistry. In 2007, Angel/EMI released the album, Jubilation, on which Mr. Parkening continues his long collaboration
with baritone Jubilant Sykes, featuring some favorites of the many pieces they
have performed together over the last fifteen years.
Parkening’s commitment to music extends beyond his performance and recording schedule.
June 2006 saw the launch of the Parkening
International Guitar Competition, honoring his lifetime commitment to
fostering musical excellence in young artists. These competitions have featured
performers from over 20 countries and bestows the largest prize purse of any
guitar competition worldwide, with the finals including performances with
orchestra <http://www.arts.pepperdine.edu/parkening>. Recently, renowned
film composer John Williams wrote and dedicated a solo guitar piece ("with great
admiration for Christopher Parkening and the Parkening Guitar Competition”),
which will be given its world premiere at the June, 2012 competition held at
Pepperdine University in Malibu, California where Parkening is Distinguished
Professor of Music and Chairs the Guitar Department. He also taught an annual
summer master class at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana for 35
years. He has authored The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method,
Volumes I and II, basic pedagogy
books for beginning and advanced players. Also recently published were the
music folios, Christopher Parkening:
Duets and Concertos, and Christopher
Parkening: Solo Pieces. These editions, along with his entire collection of
guitar transcriptions and arrangements, Virtuoso
Performances, a performance DVD, are published by Hal Leonard Corporation <http://tinyurl.com/bkqrco>. In the summer of 2006, his autobiography, Grace Like a River, was published by
Tyndale House Publishers, Chicago, IL.
Parkening has received commendations honoring his dedication and artistry,
including an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Montana State University and the
Outstanding Alumnus Award from the University of Southern California "in
recognition of his outstanding international achievement and in tribute to his
stature throughout the world as America’s preeminent virtuoso of the classical
guitar.” In addition, he was given the acclaimed American Academy of Achievement Award for excellence in the field
of music both nationally and internationally.
He also was presented with the 2000 Orville H. Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award for Best
Classical Guitarist. Parkening received the University Musical
Society’s "Distinguished Artist Award” for 2003 presented at the Ford Honors
Program at the University of Michigan.
Christopher Parkening, his wife Theresa, and their son, Luke, reside in
Southern California. At the heart of his dedication to performance, recording,
and teaching is a deep commitment to the Christian faith. He is also a world
class fly-fishing and casting champion who has won the International Gold Cup
Tarpon Tournament (the Wimbledon of fly-fishing) held in Islamorada, Florida.
|
Print to Page