Patricia Parker

Dr. Patricia Parker earned both her Doctorate of Musical Arts and Master of Music in organ performance and literature from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where she studied with Katherine Pardee, Michael Farris, David Higgs, and Gerre Hancock. She received her Bachelor of Music degree with a major in organ performance and a minor in German Studies, magna cum laude, from Salem College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she was a student of John Mueller. Her article, "New Perspectives on ‘The Hildegard Organ Cycle’," appeared in the August 2001 edition of The Diapason. A native of Charlotte, North Carolina, Dr. Parker has played solo organ recitals throughout North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. She has been teaching private piano lessons since 1995 and joined the piano faculty at Arts+ in 2011, taking on the roles of piano instructor and Suzuki accompanist. The biggest influences in her decision to make music a career were her two graduate school professors, David Higgs and Michael Farris, as well as her first piano teacher, Winnifred McKellar. She currently holds a music director position at First Presbyterian Church in Lincolnton, North Carolina. When she is not working, she enjoys reading, fencing, and graphic design.