Christopher Parkening

Christopher William Parkening was born on December 14, 1947, in Los Angeles, California. His interest in classical guitar began at age 11, influenced by his cousin, Jack Marshall, a studio musician, who introduced him to the recordings of Andrés Segovia. This early exposure to Segovia’s work inspired Parkening’s dedication to the instrument. By the age of 19, he had established a professional career, touring and recording regularly. He quickly gained recognition, with Segovia himself calling Parkening “one of the most brilliant guitarists in the world.”

At 30, Parkening temporarily stepped away from public performances and recording to pursue other interests, including flyfishing on his Montana ranch. During this period, he rarely played the guitar. A visit to Grace Community Church in Southern California profoundly impacted him, leading to his return to music with a renewed sense of purpose. He aimed to glorify God through his music, marking a significant turning point in his career. Following this, he released “Simple Gifts,” an album of traditional Christian hymns arranged for classical guitar, and his autobiography, “Grace Like a River,” was published in 2006.

Throughout his career, Parkening has been a guest soloist with major orchestras across the United States, including the Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Chicago Symphony Orchestras. He has made numerous appearances in significant venues like the White House and Carnegie Hall, and performed on nationally broadcast television programs such as “The Tonight Show” and “The Today Show.” As an educator, he founded the guitar department at the University of Southern California in 1969 and currently holds the Christopher Parkening Chair in Classical Guitar at Pepperdine University, where he continues to teach and serve as Artistic Director of the Parkening International Guitar Competition.