The Intimate Brilliance of Jon Kimura Parker: Music, Connection, and Community.

Jon Kimura (Jackie) Parker, known for his infectious charisma and electrifying performances, is a veteran of the world’s most iconic concert stages, from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House. As Creative Partner of the Minnesota Orchestra and Artistic Director of the Honens International Piano Competition, Parker’s influence extends beyond the stage to shape the future of classical music. We are thrilled to welcome him to Rancho La Puerta for our Chamber Music Festival during the week of February 1, where his artistry will undoubtedly inspire and delight.

Your career has taken you to iconic stages worldwide, from the Berlin Philharmonic to Carnegie Hall. How does performing in a more intimate, natural setting like the Oaktree Pavilion at Rancho La Puerta compare to those experiences?

The largest live audience I’ve played for was 17,000 at a sold-out Hollywood Bowl! But then it does feel like playing for ‘a crowd’. I truly enjoy performing in intimate spaces where I can connect with individual people. My previous musical experiences at the Oaktree Pavilion have felt less like performances and more like an opportunity to share what I love about the music I am playing.

How do you keep your performances fresh and evolving?

Some aspects of every concert are different – the particular qualities of every piano and every acoustic are different. Sometimes, I remind myself that even a famous work like the Moonlight Sonata will reveal secrets to some listeners for the first time. I also allow my temperament into my musical world to a certain extent, so honestly, it never comes out quite the same.

How do you see the role of classical music evolving (is it evolving?) in today’s digital and globalized world?

People within the classical music world are always making dire predictions! But my experience is that many people, especially those open to new experiences, discover classical music in their own time and are sometimes astounded at its effect on them. Classical music does require a small time commitment, and the joy of giving oneself over to a 20-minute work, experiencing its arc, and processing its emotional impact—these are incredibly rewarding experiences in a somewhat fragmented world.

Music is often described as having a healing or therapeutic effect. How have you experienced this in your own life, both as a performer and a listener?

Music has extraordinary power. I listen to many types of music to relax or reflect. As a performer, one of my most profound experiences occurred several years ago in the Oaktree room when I showed up early for a yoga class. I sat down at the piano and started to improvise. I’m not a natural improviser, but harmonies and musical shapes came to me that seemed to reflect the serenity of the moment, and it became a magical experience for all of us.

How does music help build and maintain community?

There is great joy in shared experience, whether at a sporting event, a graduation, or a concert. I often feel that part of my charge as a performer is to bring a roomful of people together. Music also builds community in the world of education. One of my great joys is to perform with youth orchestras and to see the excitement in the young players experiencing great music for the first time. In the past year, I performed Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Houston Youth Symphony and the Rachmaninoff Paganini Rhapsody with the Taiwan Youth Symphony, and both experiences highlighted a strong sense of community and collective awe amongst all of us.

What do you hope the audience takes away from your performances?

It’s my goal to share joy and create meaning. To this day, I am still deeply moved to receive a note, as I did two months ago after performing the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto with the Santa Rosa Symphony, that the music brought someone to tears. On the other hand, if a piece of music is incredibly exciting, I hope for everyone’s pulse to be raised a little! 

Join Jackie along with Aloysia Friedmann, The Kings Singers, Arco Strum, Amelia Zitoun, A. Van Jordan, and Festival Director Monique Mead for a week of concerts, random acts of music, and more February 1.