Jon Kimura Parker

Jon Kimura Parker will close the 2008 Britt Classical Festival performing Gershwin on August 17.

Internationally acclaimed pianist Jon Kimura Parker was born, raised and educated in Vancouver, Canada. His career has taken him from Carnegie Hall and the Sydney Opera House to Baffin Island and Zimbabwe. As a member of the outreach project “Piano Plus,” Parker toured remote areas including the Canadian Arctic, performing music ranging from Beethoven to Alanis Morrissette, on everything from upright pianos to electronic keyboards.

An active media personality, Parker has hosted two seasons of the classical music television series Whole Notes on Bravo! Canada. He also hosted CBC Radio two’s five-part series Up and Coming, which showcases the talents of promising young musicians across Canada. He was seen on CNN performing in war-torn Sarajevo and has been frequently documented on public television.

Jon Kimura “Jackie” Parker received all of his early education in Canada, training with his uncle Edward Parker and his mother Keiko Parker. He attended The Juilliard School on full scholarship. Parker is a Professor of Piano at Rice University, and Artistic Advisor of the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival. He is an Officer of The Order of Canada, his country’s highest civilian honor. To learn more about Jackie Parker, visit his web site at www.kimura.com.

Parker will perform Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F with the Britt Orchestra on Sunday, August 17.