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Joyce Parks has been involved with choral music is Gwinnett County and the metro area for 38 years. She is a highly regarded accompanist, pianist and organist who works with numerous solists, ensembles and choral groups as well as performing for recitals. She was a charter member of the Gwinnett Civic Chorus where she served as accompanist for its 12 years of existence in the late 1960's and 70's. Currently Ms. Parks serves on the Executive Board of the Gwinnett Choral Guild as Immediate Past President, having just completed a three-year term as President of the Guild. She also serves as coordinator of Grants and Special Projects. Prior to her retirement, she serves as Guild Accompanist for 18 years. Now she continues as a Guild Staff member, Associate Accompanist and Accompanist Emeritus. Ms. Parks is an active member of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, The American Guild of Organists, the American Choral Directors Association and the Choristers Guild. She is organist for Lawrenceville Presbyterian Church, a position she has held for 28 years. She has served other Presbyterian Churches in the metro area for a total of ten years. In addition to organist duties at LPC, Ms. Parks teaches and directs the Children’s Choirs, Men’s Ensemble and the Instrumental Ensemble. She accompanies and coaches solists and actors, and frequently directs the annual Summer Music Camp. Mentoring young musicians is a major goal of hers.

Ms. Parks has accompanied for such notable conductors as Donald Neuen, Ann Howard Jones, Dr. Kenneth Jennings and John Anderson, composer of the musical "On Eagle’s Wing." She taught and accompanied for this musical in the metro area prior to its world premiere in Belfast, Ireland. In May 2003 Ms. Parks retired from a 36 year career as a public school classroom teacher. While teaching she accompanied the school chorus. Since retirement, Ms. Parks has formed BJ Musical Productions, LLC with her colleague and partner, Bob Ferrell. Together they direct the BJ Chorale in addition to performing as the BJ DUO and individually as soloists. Ms. Parks also serves as accompanist for the Saints Alive Choir of Lawrenceville First Baptist Church.

Ms. Parks studied privately with the prominent pianist, Suzanne Hattaway Shockley from the age of 7 until her high school graduation. She continued her piano and organ studies with Mary Ann Nielsen at Young Harris College and did post-graduate studies with noted organist, Willa Lowrance, at Clairmont Presbyterian Church in Decatur. In March 2006, Ms. Parks completed a two-year rigorous post-graduate study through the London College of Music and received her Organ Performance Diploma. Ms. Parks continues to study and perform in organ workshops and conferences featuring artists such as John Ferguson, Alan Morrison, Marilyn Kaiser, John Weaver, Martin Jean and Chris Young.  In June 2005 Ms. Parks accompanied Guild performances at the Vermont International Choral Festival in Stowe, Vermont. In June 2006 she again served as accompanist for the Southern New England Choral Festival in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the only charter member of the Gwinnett Choral Guild who has performed continuously with the Guild throughout its 23 year history.



Gwinnett Choral Guild • P.O. Box 464756 Lawrenceville, Georgia 30042 • 404.223.9962 • info@gwinnettchoralguild.org
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