JAMES PARKER
PIANO
"James Parker is one of the most searching musical intellects and 10 of the nimblest fingers in the business."
- THE GLOBE AND MAIL
BIOGRAPHY
Accomplished, versatile, brilliant, are descriptors frequently linked to Canadian pianist, James Parker. To put it simply, he is among the most sought-after artists. Mr. Parker's achievements are both lengthy and impressive. His musical roots can be traced to the Vancouver Academy of Music and the University of British Columbia where he studied with Kum Sing Lee. He then went on and received his Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts at The Juilliard School with Adele Marcus. Dr. Parker continues the teaching tradition as the Rupert E. Edwards Chair in Piano Performance on the music faculty at the University of Toronto.
Awards came early and often. Beginning in 1984 with a first prize at the Eckhardt-Gramatté Competition, James served notice that he was a rising star. The CBC competition concurred, selecting him winner of the 25th National Competition for Young Performers. The Virginia Parker Award as the most promising young classical artist soon followed, further solidifying Parker's place as one of Canada's best. He is often invited to the international juries of such competitions as the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and the Honens International Piano Competition.
Concerts given by Dr. Parker consistently garner artistic acclaim. His style has earned him praise as “one of the most searching musical intellects and 10 of the nimblest fingers in the business” according to The Globe and Mail. James has enthralled audiences in North America and Europe, counting diplomats and dignitaries among his receptive audiences. He has made frequent appearances on CBC, and has performed on Bravo!, the CanWest Global Network, MuchMusic and a myriad of stations across the globe.
A consummate professional, Dr. Parker is recognized as a soloist, a chamber musician and as the pianist for Canada's foremost ensemble, the Gryphon Trio. Add to this his critically acclaimed performances with major Canadian symphonies like Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Quebec City, Edmonton, National Arts Centre, Symphony Nova Scotia and many in between, one is reminded of the scope of his contributions to the national classical music scene. With three JUNO recording awards and many other nominations from his vast discography, Dr. Parker (or as we know him), Jamie, continues to graciously strive to do it all.
James Parker is a Steinway Artist.
January 2023
REVIEWS
"James Parker is one of the most searching musical intellects and 10 of the nimblest fingers in the business."
- THE GLOBE AND MAIL
"James Parker is clearly a finished, accomplished pianist, possessed of secure technique, rock-solid rhythm and comfortable stage demeanour."
- THE GLOBE AND MAIL
“Jamie Parker, whose musical imagination and gestural phrasing flew out from his fingers like spider-silk …”
-THE CHRONICLE HERALD
"Parker delivers solid performance" [Headline]
- FREE PRESS, Winnipeg
"He is unquestionably enormously gifted for the piano."
- THE OTTAWA CITIZEN
"Parker shaped the extended themes of Grieg’s concerto very persuasively and with great self-confidence."
- THE MONTREAL GAZETTE
"In every sense, this was an exquisite performance. Thoughtful, reflective, beautifully shaped and phrased, high-spirited in those moments that call for ebullience, poetic in those that call for depth of feeling..."
- TIMES-GLOBE, Saint John
PREFERRED CONCERTO LIST
2020–23
Violet Archer*
Divertimento for Piano and String
Beethoven
Concerto No. 1, No. 3, No. 4, No. 5
Choral Fantasy
Triple Concerto
T. Patrick Carrabré*
Piano Concerto
Ernő Dohnányi
Variations on a Nursery Song
Falla
Nights in the Gardens of Spain
Gershwin
Rhapsody in Blue
Grieg
Concerto
Khatchaturian
Piano Concerto
Constant Lambert
Rio Grande with Choir & Mezzo Soprano
Liszt
Concerto No. 1
Hungarian Fantasia
Malediction
Mendelssohn
Concerto No. 1
Capriccio Brilliant
Mozart
Concerto K. 414, K. 467, K. 488
Double Piano Concerto K. 365
Triple Piano Concerto K. 242
Prokofiev
Concerto No. 1 & No. 2
Rachmaninov
Concerto No. 1 & No. 2
Ravel
Concerto in G Major
Schumann
Concerto in a minor
Shostakovich
Concerto for Piano, Trumpet and Strings
Harry Somers
Piano Concerto No. 3
Tchaikovsky
Concerto No. 1
John Weinzweig*
Divertimento #10 for Piano and Strings
*Denotes Canadian composer
Recital repertoire available upon request
Master classes and workshops available
Other concerti available upon request
DISCOGRAPHY
Harry Somers – Celebration
(Third Piano Concerto; w/ The Esprit Orchestra, Pauk)
CBC SMCD 5199
Azulao
(Isabel Bayrakdarian, James Parker, Cello Ensemble)
CBC MVCD 1164
Jamie Parker – Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Stravinsky
RCI 649
