December 10, 2004

Columbus State Universitys Schwob School of Music has selected internationally acclaimed concert pianist Jon Kimura Parker as the first musician for a new distinguished visiting artist program.

Parkers extraordinary career has taken him from his home in Vancouver to two command performances for Queen Elizabeth II, special performances for the United States Supreme Court, and performances for the prime ministers of Canada and Japan.

He will come to CSU to teach and perform at the Schwob School of Music through the generosity of Dr. E. Stephen Purdom, a retired AFLAC executive vice president, and retired medical director of the Columbus Clinic. He established the visiting artist program this year with a major gift that will bring world-class performing artists to Columbus.

These artists will work with music students and faculty to bring another level of talent to Columbus, continuing the increase in visibility and stature of CSUs Schwob School of Music.

This new program is a fantastic way to bring more of the worlds best musicians to our students. Were really setting the bar very high by announcing Parker as the inaugural artist in this program, said Laurence Kaptain, director of the Schwob School of Music.

Parker has traveled the world during his illustrious career. In the past two seasons, he has performed as guest soloist with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Baltimore Symphony, the Columbus Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, the Minnesota Orchestra and the NHK Orchestra in Tokyo, as well every major orchestra in Canada.

As a member of the outreach project Piano Six, Parker toured remote areas including the Canadian Arctic, performing music ranging from Beethoven to Alanis Morissette on everything from upright pianos to electronic keyboards. He also has jammed with Doc Severinsen in Calgary and Bobby McFerrin in Phildelphia and Baltimore.

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 Twos five-part series Up And Coming, which showcases the talents of promising young musicians across Canada. He has played himself in a guest appearance on the Disney Channels Under the Umbrella Tree, was seen on CNN performing in war-torn Sarajevo and has been documented frequently on CBC, as well as on PBSs The Visionaries.

Parker is professor of piano at The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, and is artistic advisor of the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival. He is an officer of The Order of Canada, his countrys highest civilian honor.

He will be teaching and performing in Columbus Nov. 1-5, 2005, Jan. 24-29, 2006 and April 1-5, 2006 as part of the Dr. E. Stephen Purdom Distinguished Visiting Artist Program, which is yet another example of how the school is making a big impact nationwide while continuing the feel and practices of a little school.

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Contact: Laurence Kaptain, Director Schwob School of Music at 706-649-7225 or kaptain_laurence@ColumbusState.edu