Parkening, Christopher (14th
December 1947-Present)
He is a classical guitarist
virtuoso born in Los
Angeles, Califorrnia.He started to take an interest in music in the late 1950s through
the influence of his cousin, Jack Marshall, who was a musician who
introduced him to the work of Andres Segovia and encouraged him to take up
studying the guitar.He studied
the classical guitar and had won several competitions, toured and made
recordings before he was 20.Performing in concerts all over the United States he has appeared in
venues such as the White House, the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall as
well as having appeared with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal
Albert Hall in London.He has
an extensive discography and is noted for his world premiere recording of Capriol Suite by Peter Warlock and
Baroque concertos by Vivaldi.In June 2006 he launched the Parkening International Guitar
Competition which offers a prize purse, which is the largest of all guitar
competitions, and is open to performers from all over the world.As a teacher he takes masterclasses in
Montana
each year and as a top class fisherman he has won the International Gold
Cup Tarpon Tournament for fly fishing.
Isaac Albeniz
recordings
Malaguena
EMI 47194 (CD:
In the Spanish Style)
Guitar - Christopher Parkening
La Vega
Angel 56859 (CD:Elmer
Bernstein/Christopher Parkening: Concerto for Guitar)
