Jane Parker-Smith is universally recognised as one of the world's leading concert organists, acclaimed by the critics and public alike for her musicianship, virtousity and interpretative ability.
Her studies at the Royal College of Music in London culminated in the winning of several prizes and scholarships, including the Walford Davies Prize for organ performance She made her London debut at Westminster Cathedral at the age of twenty and two years later made her first solo appearance at the BBC Promenade Concerts in the Royal Albert Hall. She has since performed in numerous concert halls throughout the world.
After a further period of work with the eminent concert organist and teacher Nicolas Kynaston, a French Government Scholarship enabled her to complete her studies in Paris with the legendary blind organist Jean Langlais, perfecting her knowledge and understanding of 20th century French organ music for which she is today internationally renowned.
She has recorded a wide range of repertoire for RCA, Classics for Pleasure, L'Oiseau Lyre, EMI, ASV, Collins Classics and Motette, and has performed frequently on radio and television with special feature programmes on both German and Swiss TV.
Jane Parker-Smith's success has extended to all corners of the globe. She appears regularly at international festivals, gives masterclasses, and is often invited to be a jury member for international organ competitions, the most recent being the 1998 Calgary International Organ Festival. Highlights in her concert career have been performances in major festivals such as the City of London, Bath and Three Choirs Festivals in England, the Internationale Orgelwoche Nürnberg in Germany, the Jyväskylä Arts Festival in Finland, the Hong Kong Arts Festival, Festival Paris Quartier D'Été in France, the Festival L'Europe & L'Orgue Maastricht in Holland and four solo concerts as a guest recitalist at the American Guild of Organists National Centennial Convention in New York City.
Her extensive concerto repertoire has brought her performances with many leading orchestras including the London Symphony, the London Philharmonic and Royal Philharmonic Orchestras, the Philharmonia, the City of Birmingham Symphony, the Stockholm Philharmonic, the Westphalian Symphony Orchestra and the Prague Chamber Orchestra. She has worked with such distinguished conductors as Sir Simon Rattle, Serge Baudo, Carl Davis, Vernon Handley, Thomas Sanderling, Matthias Bamert and Richard Hickox.
Miss Parker-Smith is also an Honorary Fellow of the Guild of Musicians and Singers.
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NEW YORK
" Virtuosity was the hallmark of British organist Jane Parker-Smith . . . showed her musicality with a lyrical performance . . . total mastery . . ."
The American Organist
"The Liszt Symphonic Poem Prometheus was the perfect vehicle for Parker-Smith's virtuosity . . ."
The Diapason
LONDON
" . . . virtuosity and charisma . . . playing of a seemingly adroit, highly skilled panache . . . "
The Daily Telegraph
" . . . flair and distinction . . . a triumphant success . . a memorable interpretation of a monumental work on a monumental instrument."
The Organists' Review
ROTTERDAM
" . . . formidable virtuosity . . ."
Rottersdam Nieuwsblad
" . . . A second Jeanne Demessieux . . this concert proved that the superlatives that have been lavished on her were not exaggerated . . . definitely a great organ personality . . ."
NRC Handelsbad
OTTAWA
" . . . an exciting recital . . . there was much individuality in everything she played . . . a feeling for tone colour which was masterly."
Ottawa Journal
HONG KONG
" . . . unforgettable performance . . . divine . . . "
South China Morning Post
ZURICH
" Jane Parker-Smith's fine tonal sense made her perfect technique a constant source of fascination."
Neue Zürcher Zeitung
FRANKFURT
" . . fresh and vivacious approach to compositions . . . musical virtuosity and lively, humourous character . . ."
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
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