Andrew Kwan Artists Management

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

PHOTOS

Photography

Shin Sugino

 

Click each image to download a hi-res version

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