Michael Parkinson

Michael Parkinson is Professor of Music at Ohio University. He teaches courses in jazz studies, music industry-entrepreneurship, and directs Jazz Ensemble II and the New Music Ensemble. Mike served as Director of the OU School of Music from 2007-2012. He performs with Jazz Spoken Here [www.jazzspokenhere.com] and Sweet Basil. [www.erniebastin.com]. From 1997-2007 Mike served as music department chair at Webster University in St. Louis. Previously he held faculty appointments at Case Western Reserve University, Furman University, and the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he served as Director of Jazz Studies. A native of Cleveland, Tennessee, Mike received the DMA in wind conducting from the University of Cincinnati, the MM in trumpet performance from Kent State University, and the BM in Music Education from the University of North Texas. He studied trumpet with Frank Brown, John Haynie, Harry Herforth, and Marie Speziale; and conducting with Kelly Hale, Donald Hunsberger, David Kuehn, and Terry Milligan. Mike's primary influences are Bob Brookmeyer, Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Bill Scarlett, and Kenny Wheeler. As an Educational Specialist for Benge Trumpets (Conn-Selmer) since 1976, Mike has appeared as an adjudicator, clinician or performer at events such as MUSICFEST USA and the Greater Southwest Music Festival, and at schools and festivals across the United States. He has directed ensembles for conventions of the College Band Directors National Association, International Association for Jazz Education, International Electronic Music Plus Festival, Music Educators National Conference, Society of Composers, and the Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Ohio and South Carolina Music Educators Association state conferences. He is the author of BASIE, BEBOP, BALLADS & BLUES, a jazz ensemble repertoire guide, and BEYOND THE BLUES, a guide to jazz ensemble score-part editing and rehearsal techniques. He also presents clinics on improvisation and personal musicianship. From 1995-2005, Mike served as the Artistic Director of the International Summer Jazz Academy [ISJA] in Krakow, Poland. The ISJA is a two week highly intensive seminar bringing American and Polish artists-educators together to work with talented students from across Europe and the US. In recognition of his service to the students in Poland, he was named Amicus Poloniae by the Republic of Poland. For his service to the state of Missouri, he received the Jess Cole Award from the Missouri Unit of the International Association for Jazz Education and is a Sigma Alpha Iota Friend of Music. Mike has performed with American artists including Bob Brookmeyer, Bill Dobbins, Gary Foster, Bobby Watson and Phil Woods, and Polish artists such as Marek Balata, Joachim Mencel, Janusz Muniak, Jacek Niedziela, and Wlodek Pawlik. His experience includes shows such as George Burns, Glen Campbell, Rosemary Clooney, the Four Aces, and the Manhattan Transfer. He has recorded with harpist Michelle Himmell, the Spirit of Kansas City Orchestra, the St. Thomas Quartet, Kirby Shaw, and the Webster University jazz faculty. An avid supporter of “new music,” he founded the Webster University New Music Ensemble. He has worked with composers including Robert Cooper, Halim El Dabh, Donald Erb, Donald Freund, Gay Holmes Spears, Karel Husa, James Mobberley, Eugene O’Brien, Mark Phillips, Kim Portnoy, and Morton Subotnick. Mike’s personal interests include Formula 1 racing, reading, politics, and Polish Studies. He is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, the College Music Society, the Jazz Education Connection of Ohio, the Jazz Education Network, the National Association for Music Education, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Pi Kappa Lambda, the United Methodist Church, and is an honorary member of Kappa Kappa Psi, Sigma Alpha Iota and Tau Beta Sigma. He is married to Charlene Hanson, a native of North Dakota, who has served as director of music ministries at churches in Kansas, Missouri and North Dakota. The Parkinson family resides in Athens, Ohio.

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