CHRISTOPHER PARKENING TAKES CENTER STAGE AT GPAC
1/30/03
On Saturday, February 15, 8 p.m. the Germantown Performing Arts Centre will welcome back Christopher Parkening. Celebrated as the greatest contemporary classical guitar virtuoso of his generation, the talented Parkening returns to the GPAC stage for an eagerly anticipated third performance.
The guitarist’s rare combination of dramatic virtuosity and eloquent musicianship has captivated audiences around the world from New York to Tokyo. He is recognized as the heir to the legacy of the great Spanish guitarist Andrés Segovia, who declared Parkening “…one of the most brilliant guitarists in the world.” In his famed recording, A Tribute to Segovia, Parkening performed on one of the late Spanish master’s own concert guitars. The guitar virtuoso has played at the White House, appeared with Placido Domingo on Live From Lincoln Center, participated in the Carnegie Hall 100th Anniversary celebration and performed twice on the internationally broadcasted Grammy Awards. His television appearances include The Tonight Show, CBS Sunday Morning, The Today Show and 20/20. Parkening’s music, under the direction of composer/conductor John Williams, was featured on the soundtrack of Stepmom, which has topped the Billboard’s crossover charts since its release. He has been voted "Best Classical Guitarist" in a nationwide readers’ poll by Guitar Player Magazine for many years running and ultimately elected to the magazine’s Gallery of Greats.
Parkening's commitment to music extends beyond his demanding performance schedule. Recently, he was named as a distinguished faculty member of Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, where he began teaching last fall, 2002. Also, he teaches a summer master class at Montana State University in Bozeman. He has authored The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method, Volume 1, a basic pedagogy book, and Volume 2, for advanced players. These editions, along with his collection of guitar transcriptions and arrangements, are published by Hal Leonard Corporation.
Tickets are $39. For more information, stop by GPAC at 1801 Exeter Road in Germantown any time Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., call the box office at (901) 757-7256 or visit www.GPACweb.com. All major credit cards accepted.
