Christopher Parkening Biography

Christopher Parkening (born 14 December 1947) is an American classical guitarist.

Parkening was born in Los Angeles, California, and pursued music in part because of his cousin Jack Marshall, a studio musician in the 1960s. Marshall first introduced Parkening to the recordings of Andrés Segovia when he was 11, and encouraged Parkening to begin his guitar studies with classical guitar. By the time he was 19, he had won a number of competitions and was touring and recording extensively.

Parkening is recognized as heir to the legacy of Segovia, who said, "Christopher Parkening is a great artist—-he is one of the most brilliant guitarists in the world."

Parkening has amassed a great discography on Angel/EMI Classics. He has been nominated twice for a Grammy Award. A notable recording is Parkening Plays Vivaldi featuring a selection of Baroque concertos, as well as the world premiere recording of Peter Warlock's Capriol Suite with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields.

Christopher Parkening lives with his wife, Theresa, and son Luke in Southern California. Each summer he teaches master classes in Bozeman, Montana. He is a committed Christian and regards performance as an expression of his faith. Parkening is also a world class fly fishing and casting champion who has won the International Gold Cup Tarpon Tournament (the “Wimbledon” of fly fishing) in the Florida Keys.