Christopher Parkening Talk and Master Class

-Friday, October 27 at 7:30pm in Reynolds Performance Hall- Life Story and Christian Testimony, The Creative Process Behind Classical Guitar Performance. Christopher Parkening will give the story of his career and share his Christian faith testimony followed by a Q&A with the audience. This event is free and open to the public. -Saturday, October 28 at 9:00am in Reynolds Performance Hall- Ten students will play for Christopher Parkening and receive lesson. Auditing this event is free and open to the public. This event is made possible by sponsorships from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Edward Jones Financial Advisors, The Guitar Studio, LLC., and generous individuals from the Fort Worth community. For more information about this event please contact Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Guitar Department Director, Dr. Will Douglas at [email protected]. Christopher Parkening Artist Bio Christopher Parkening is celebrated as one of the world’s preeminent virtuosos of the classical guitar. For more than a quarter century, 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, and Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco and premiered their new concert works in a effort to keep the guitar in the musical forefront. Parkening was acknowledged as “Best Classical Guitarist” in the nationwide readers’ poll of Guitar Player Magazine for many consecutive years, he 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 St. Paul and Los Angeles Chamber Orchestras, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. His extensive recital schedule takes him throughout the country, with regular appearances in New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Houston and Los Angeles. Recent 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 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 March, 2007, Angel/EMI will release a new album on which Mr. Parkening continues his long collaboration with baritone Jubilant Sykes, recording some favorites of the many pieces they have performed together over.

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Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2029705-0

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