Parke Burgess, instructor

Parke brings a broad and diverse range of experience to bear on his cello teaching. Extensively trained as an orchestral conductor, with three decades of cello performance and a thorough understanding of music theory and history, he provides a rich and deeply rooted musical education to his cello students.

Parke is also committed to the wider cognitive and psychological development of his students. Drawing upon more than a decade of intensive meditation training and a diverse array of intellectual interests, he encourages a penetrating and thoughtful engagement with all aspects not only of music-making but also the world beyond.

Parke earned a Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree in orchestral conducting from the University of Washington (1997); a Master of Music (MM) degree in orchestral conducting from the State University of New York, Binghamton (1990); and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in music theory and history from Yale University (1987).

His cello teachers have included Cornelia Watkins, David Shamban, Steven Stalker and Toby Saks. In masterclasses, Parke has played for Alexander Schneider, Samuel Rhodes, Sadao Harada and Aldo Parisot. His conducting teachers include Peter Eros, Charles Bruck, Otto-Werner Mueller, Alasdair Neale and Leif Bjaland. He has studied music theory with Jonathan Berger, Michael Friedmann, Rob Kapilow, Jonathan Bernard, and worked on an intensive independent study of Schenkarian analysis with John Rothgeb; and music history with Claude Palisca.

While pursuing a career primarily in orchestral conducting, Parke also performed extensively as a freelance cellist throughout upper New York State and the Puget Sound area. He was principal cellist of the University of Washington Symphony Orchestra and played for two years in UW's Scholarship String Quartet. In 1994, he was selected as a Finalist in the Seattle Ladies Musical Club recital competition. Since moving to the Puget Sound area in 1990, Parke has played with numerous local ensembles, including as Principal Cellist of the Chaspen Chamber Orchestra and the Bellevue Philharmonic.

Parke began teaching cello privately in 1993, and has taught dozens of students aged 10 and up at all levels. He has served on the faculties of the Marrowstone Music Festival, the Northwest School for the Arts, and California State University, Stanislaus, and has also served as Music Director of the Everett Youth Symphonies. Other conducting credits include music directorships of the Yale Russian Chorus (see this New York Times review), the Yale Bach Society, the Seattle Chamber Soloists, and the Lake Union Civic Orchestra.

In addition to a diverse variety of articles and columns, Parke has written a book-length doctoral dissertation entitled Karajan the Interpreter, A Critique.

In other endeavors, Parke has served as managing director of Sightline Institute (then known as Northwest Environment Watch), where he spent more than five years in management and fundraising; his book about nonviolent social change, Our Tragic Flaw, has recently been released. He's practiced Zen since 1994, currently under the supervision of Jack Duffy. Parke is currently engaged in coursework to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, but plans to continue to teaching cello for many years to come.