Dr. Matt Davis, Chief Executive Officer | Maranatha Baptist University
Dr. Matt Davis, Chief Executive Officer | Maranatha Baptist University
Baritone Dr. David Parker performed in the Artist Series 2025 titled "Love Songs through the Ages," accompanied by pianist Dr. Benjamin Downs and cellist Mrs. Rebeccah Parker Downs. The concert featured love songs from different eras, spanning classical to modern-day music.
The program included Italian, French, Russian, German, and English language pieces from composers like Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, and Bernstein. Dr. Parker soloed on many of the pieces while also featuring two cello and piano duets. Amy Beach’s Romance was particularly well-received by the audience for its emotional depth. The duo also played Piazzolla’s Grand Tango.
Student musicians joined Dr. Parker on several numbers, including Jackson Schoonover on French Horn for West Side Story’s Maria. The concert concluded with Con Te Partirò, featuring MBU students on strings and brass with a student choir led by Dr. Bachorik.
Dr. David Parker has an extensive background in music education and performance, having retired from Bob Jones University after 41 years of teaching. He continues to perform regionally and serves as a music pastor in Simpsonville, SC.
Dr. Benjamin Downs is an award-winning performer with a PhD in Theory and History of Music from Stony Brook University and a Doctorate in Piano Performance from Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He performs internationally alongside his wife Mrs. Rebeccah Parker Downs.
Mrs. Rebeccah Parker Downs holds advanced degrees from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music and teaches cello lessons at Northern Lights School for Strings while performing with various orchestras and ensembles.
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