Jon Kimura Parker


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Born 1959, British Columbia


Bio

Jon Kimura Parker is a pianist who regularly performs as a soloist with orchestras around the world. After studying piano with his mother, Keiko Parker, and his uncle, Edward Parker, as a child, he went on to train at the Vancouver Academy of Music, the University of British Columbia, the Victoria Conservatory, the Banff Centre, and The Juilliard School. He is currently Professor of Piano at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. Parker is also an Officer of the Order of Canada, and has performed for Queen Elizabeth II, the Prime Ministers of Canada and Japan, and the United States Supreme Court. He has also toured his music to remote areas such as the Canadian Arctic, and performed in war-torn Sarajevo in 1995.

Parker frequently performs both repertoire from major composers of the past, as well as premiering new works from contemporary composers. In addition to playing with orchestras, he also performs with many smaller ensembles, such as duos and quintets, including the group Off the Score which he formed with Stewart Copeland, former drummer of The Police. One of his groups, the Montrose Trio, with violinist Martin Beaver and cellist Clive Greensmith, was called ‘poised to become one of the top piano trios in the world’ by the Washington Post upon their first tour in 2015.Parker also hosts a music-related programs on television and radio, including Bravo’s Whole NotesUp and Coming on CBC Radio, and his own YouTube series.