“It’s very unlikely I'll have a full-time position with an orchestra as a pianist as my career. That is not a thing that happens to too many people these days. So, if not that, sink or swim, I have to start thinking about my career in a different way.”
Pianist Marianne Parker’s playing has been described as “a cut above...her sympathetic fingers offering well-sculpted phrases and impassioned pealing” (Chicago Classical Review). Her debut album, Pages intimes, released in early 2019, features recently re-discovered works by Haitian composers. Marianne is currently curating an anthology of 21st century works for solo piano through NewMusicShelf.
An active chamber musician, Marianne co-founded the marimba and piano new music ensemble, L+M Duo, in 2016 along with marimbist Laurel Black. The duo is committed to commissioning new work for their instrumentation by today’s composers. This season, the duo was featured in Chamber Music Magazine; performed at the Nief-Norf New Music Festival in Knoxville, TN; and produced a public concert in Chicago to celebrate the centennial of the iconic Wrigley Building. A fierce advocate of New Music, Parker is in demand as a collaborator for instrumentalists and vocalists alike. She serves as Vice President of the membership group New Music Chicago, and co-produces the monthly series New Music Chicago Presents... at the Chicago Cultural Center.
Marianne performs with many prominent chamber ensembles across the Midwest, including Milwaukee’s Present Music, and Chicago’s Access Contemporary Music, Fourth Coast Ensemble, Crossing Borders Music, and more. Marianne served as the principal pianist for the Chicago Civic Orchestra, and has performed under the batons of Riccardo Muti, Jaap Van Zweden, Michael Tilson Thomas, Ludovic Morlot, Carlos Miguel Prieto, and Michael Christy.
Marianne’s work is driven by her passion to communicate the vibrancy and variety of classical music, especially to those who have yet to discover it.
Marianne Parker is one of the most active and vibrant musicians I know. Just to name a few things she has going on: performing and commissioning works with her piano and marimba duo, L&M; recording works by Haitian composers; curating an anthology of 21st century works for solo piano through New Music Shelf; producing performances with New Music Chicago along with other administrative tasks; a packed performance and teaching schedule; and still has time to spend with her family, go to parks with her lovely dog, build a garden, hiking, running, what else?!
The great thing about Marianne, amongst her active and busy lifestyle, is she always has a very positive and joyous attitude. And this entirely comes through in our conversation. We discuss nearly all of the things listed above, along with what it’s like learning to compose from a performers perspective, the upcoming premiere of Stephanie Ann Boyd’s Flower Catalog, comedy podcasts, Ear Taxi, New Music Gathering, the pairing concerts with violist Michael Hall, and so much more in episode 18 of the Making Noise Podcast.
I hope you enjoy!
Follow Marianne’s Work: www.marianneparker.com
Twitter: @mariannep_piano
Insta: mrrrranne
Stephanie Ann Boyd’s Flower Catalog: https://www.stephanieannboyd.com/flower-catalog
NewMusicShelf Anthology for Solo Piano, Volume 1: https://www.newmusicshelf.com/product/anthology-solo-piano-vol-1/
“Pages intimes” debut album: https://marianneparker.bandcamp.com/releases
“Pyano Sa” album of works by Gifrants: https://open.spotify.com/album/3u6suWwJYlOvkoByvSnRIv (stream/Spotify), https://www.amazon.com/Pyano-Sa-Gifrants/dp/B08QMKN7DV (digital download/Amazon)
Learn more about the upcoming Ear Taxi Festival currently at https://www.newmusicchicago.org/faqs/ , and starting in July at www.eartaxifestival.com.
Chicago chocolatier from the pairings concert: Katherine Anne Confections
The Haitian-American (Montreal-based) composer is: Gifrants
Watch the podcast on YouTube
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where you can listen to music, purchase scores, and learn how to commission a new piece for your ensemble.