November 13, 2006

Classical Saxophonist David Parks to Present Recital, Lead Workshop at Whitworth

Classical saxophonist and 2002 Whitworth alumnus David Parks will present a recital and lead a master class Nov. 18 and 20 at his alma mater. The recital, which will feature works by Christian Lauba, Johannes Brahms, Luciano Berio and William Albright, will take place on Saturday, Nov.18, at 8 p.m. Parks will lead a saxophone master class on Monday, Nov. 20, at 3:30 p.m. Both events are free and will be held in the Music Building Recital Hall at Whitworth. For more information, please call (509) 777-3280.

As an undergraduate at Whitworth, Parks studied with Sylvia Baker and earned a bachelor's degree in saxophone performance. He went on to earn a M.M. in performance from the University of Southern Mississippi; Parks is currently a doctoral candidate at Indiana University. Parks has presented guest recitals at the World Saxophone Congresses in Slovenia and Minneapolis, and at the North American Saxophone Alliance Biennial Conference.

Parks recently toured Poland with renowned organist Diane Bish, and has received invitations to perform solo recitals and conduct master classes in Nebraska, Washington, Arizona and California, and in Europe and Australia. In May 2006, Parks was a featured guest at the Integrales New Music Festival, where he performed a program of new music for saxophone and electronics.

Parks was also selected as a prizewinner in various national and international competitions, including the Music Teachers National Association Competition and the IBLA International Performance Competition, in Sicily. A strong advocate of contemporary music, Parks has premiered 11 works in the past five years, including Our Shepherd's Sacred Throne, by Walter Hartley and Juggle, by Cristian Marina.

"David is one of the most outstanding student-musicians to have graduated from Whitworth in the last 10 years," says Richard Strauch, associate professor of music and director of the Whitworth Wind Symphony. "What he has accomplished in the short time since he graduated is truly remarkable. He exemplifies what the Whitworth music faculty hope all of its students aspire to achieve."

Contacts:

Richard Strauch, associate professor of music and director of the Whitworth Wind Symphony, Whitworth College, (509) 777-4587 or rstrauch@whitworth.edu.

Joan Lack, music department program assistant, Whitworth College, (509) 777-3280 or jlack@whitworth.edu.

Julie Riddle, public information officer, Whitworth College, (509) 777-3729 or jriddle@whitworth.edu.