He is a classical guitarist virtuoso born in Los Angeles, Califorrnia.
He started to take an interest in music in the late 1950s through the influence of his cousin, Jack Marshall, who was a musician who introduced him to the work of Andres Segovia and encouraged him to take up studying the guitar. He studied the classical guitar and had won several competitions, toured and made recordings before he was 20.
Performing in concerts all over the United States he has appeared in venues such as the White House, the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall as well as having appeared with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
He has an extensive discography and is noted for his world premiere recording of Capriol Suite by Peter Warlock and Baroque concertos by Vivaldi.
In June 2006 he launched the Parkening International Guitar Competition which offers a prize purse, which is the largest of all guitar competitions, and is open to performers from all over the world.
More recently he has held the position of Distinguished Professor of Music and Chair in Classical Guitar at Pepperdine University.
As a teacher he takes masterclasses in Montana each year and as a top class fisherman he has won the International Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament for fly fishing.
Isaac Albeniz recordings
Malaguena
EMI 47194 (CD: In the Spanish Style)
Guitar – Christopher Parkening
La Vega
Angel 56859 (CD:Elmer Bernstein/Christopher Parkening: Concerto for Guitar)
Orchestra – London Symphony Orchestra
Conductor – Elmer Bernstein
Guitar – Christopher Parkening
Leyenda
EMI 47194 (CD: In the Spanish Style)
Guitar – Christopher Parkening
St. Francis of Assisi/William Henry Draper recordings
EMI Angel CDC-7 47525 2 (CD: Simple Gifts)
Guitar – Christopher Parkening
Arranger – Rick Foster
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