Artist Series 2025 | Love Songs through the Ages
Baritone Dr. David Parker, accompanied by pianist Dr. Benjamin Downs and cellist Mrs. Rebeccah Parker Downs, soloed in this year’s Artist Series, “Love Songs through the Ages.” Journeying from classical to romantic to modern-day music, Dr. Parker enthralled the audience with beautiful musical expressions of love across time.
Concert
The program contained Italian, French, Russian, German, and English language love songs from classical repertoire through classical music theater. Featured composers included Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Bernstein.
Dr. David Parker soloed on many of the pieces, but two cello and piano duets were also featured. The audience particularly enjoyed Amy Beach’s Romance. Its rich expressions of love stirred the audience to feel joy and sorrow, contentment and angst. The cello and piano duo also played Piazzolla’s energetic Grand Tango.
In addition, student musicians and vocalists joined Dr. Parker on several numbers. Jackson Schoonover accompanied on French Horn for West Side Story’s Maria. The concert’s inspiring finale, Con Te Partirò, included MBU students accompanying on strings and brass, and a student choir singing behind Dr. Parker. Dr. Bachorik conducted the ensemble.
Performers
Dr. David Parker earned a B.S. in Music Education and an M.M in Vocal Performance from Bob Jones University; a D.M.A. in Vocal Performance from the University of Michigan; and a CMVT (Certified McClosky Vocal Technician) from McClosky Institute of Voice. He retired from the voice faculty of Bob Jones University (41 years) where he taught private voice, Diction for Singers, Vocal Pedagogy, Music Technology, and Opera and Oratorio Literature. Dr. Parker stays active in soloing roles with regional and community orchestras, including many performances at Bob Jones University. He currently serves as music pastor of Faith Baptist Church in Simpsonville, SC, and travels as a speaker and performer.
Dr. Benjamin Downs, Dr. Parker’s son-in-law, is a music educator, scholar, and performer. Dr. Downs earned a PhD in Theory and History of Music from Stony Brook University and a Doctorate in Piano Performance from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. An award-winning performer, Dr. Downs performs internationally as a soloist and collaborator with his wife Mrs. Rebeccah Downs. He has taught at the Cincinnati Conservatory, Stony Brook University, and Macalester College.
Mrs. Rebeccah Parker Downs holds a Master’s and Artist Diploma from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Located in the Twin Cities, Mrs. Downs performs as a soloist and chamber musician and teaches private cello lessons for Northern Lights School for Strings. She often collaborates with her husband, Dr. Benjamin Downs. As a chamber musician, she regularly performs with An Opera Theatre, 113 Composer Collective, Duluth Superior Symphony, Mankato Symphony, South Dakota Symphony, Minnesota Chorale, Des Moines Symphony, American Opera Project, and others.
You can view a recording of the concert below:
Click here to see photos from the evening.