September – October

Featured Composer

Jennifer Parker

Jennifer (Scovell) Parker has enjoyed a career working as a singer, educator, ensemble director, arranger, songwriter, accompanist, praise and worship leader and studio musician. Jennifer has over 20 years of experience in higher education having held positions at Western Michigan University, Washington State University, Concordia University and McNally Smith College of Music. She currently teaches at Inver Hills Community College and North Central University in Minneapolis, MN.

With her heart in education, Jennifer works regularly as a clinician, adjudicator and performer throughout the country. Past highlights include presentations at the Colorado Music Educators Convention, Iowa Music Educators Convention, Washington Music Educators Convention, Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival, Minnesota Music Educators Convention and American Choral Directors Association. She has had the privilege of directing the Illinois Music Educators Association regional vocal jazz ensemble and the North Dakota, Wisconsin and Colorado All State Jazz Choirs. Jennifer is a regular addition to camps and festivals throughout the country including the International Music Camp (IMC), the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists and the Lionel Hampton International Jazz Festival. She currently serves as the ACDA Repertoire and Resources Chair of Vocal Jazz for the State of Minnesota.

Jennifer currently performs throughout the Midwest with her quartet performing Jazz and original music. Her first full-length recording,The Rest of Me,consists entirely of original music and after years of waiting, set to be released this year! As a result of her diverse musical upbringing, Jennifer’s writing crosses over into a number of genres although jazz remains a central influence.

Jennifer has written and arranged for other artists as well. Her song Sign of Life was featured in the documentary My Dream, My Right, a humanitarian awareness documentary focused on Syrian refugee children, and the film premiered in 2015 at the Minneapolis film festival. Her song Home has been arranged and published for Matfal Music and is soon to be released on an album by the Los Angeles based vocal quartet, True North.

Jennifer was privileged to studied under Christine Salerno and Linda Parins at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Sunny Wilkinson, Steve Zegree and Duane Davis at Western Michigan University.

Jennifer’s family continues the musical tradition in St. Paul, MN with her husband and vocalist, Shon Parker, their six-year old son, Gideon and dog, Jaxon.