Hayes School of Music

Robert Clinton Parker (May 12, 1941 - July 3, 2019), was born in Hickory, NC. He is married to the former Cheryl Darlene Cooke, and he has two children, John Christopher and Alisa Noel, from his first marriage.

Parker earned his B.S. degree in music education from Appalachian State University, where he was a student of Virginia Wary Linney's. In 1962, while still an undergraduate student at Appalachian State, he founded the Men's Glee Club, an ensemble which has become one of the premier ensembles of its type in the East. Parker served as conductor of the Glee Club until 2001. In 1970, he earned his M.M. degree in conducting from the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill (UNC-CH). While working on his master's degree at UNC-CH, Parker was a graduate teaching assistant in the Department of Music; he also established the Women's Glee Club and gave private voice lessons. During his studies at the university, he became a lifelong student of Dr. Lara Hoggard's. Parker earned a Ph.D. degree in music education and administration in 1979 from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, where he studied under Dr. Neal Glenn and Dr. Lee Kjelson.

Parker began his teaching career in 1964 as the choral and drama director at R. J. Reynolds High School, Winston-Salem, NC. He was the choral director from 1965 to 1968 at Concord Senior High School, Concord, NC. In 1967, the Concord choir was invited to perform with the United States Navy Band at Watergate concerts in Washington, District of Columbia. On the occasion of Canada's centennial, the group also sang in a command performance for Queen Elizabeth in Montreal, Canada. Parker was a graduate teaching assistant in the music department while working on his master's at UNC-CH. While there he established the women's glee club, and taught private voice. From 1970 to 1972, Parker was assistant professor of music and director of choral music at Pikeville College, Pikeville, Kentucky. The Pikeville choir was selected to perform at the opening ceremonies of Disney World.

In 1972, Parker joined the faculty at Appalachian State University as assistant dean of the College of Fine and Applied Arts, as assistant professor of music, and as director of the Cannon Music Camp. While at Appalachian State, Dr. Parker served as conductor of the University Singers, the Women's Glee Club, the Men's Glee Club, and the Appalachian Chorale–an oratorio group consisting of students, faculty, staff, and individuals from the community. In 1976, the University Singers were invited to represent the United States at the International Bach Festival in Leipzig, Germany. In addition to his academic responsibilities, Parker served as choirmaster at Boone United Methodist Church.

Over the past thirty years, Dr. Parker has been a guest conductor and clinician in North Carolina, Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Florida, Georgia, and Kentucky in the United States, as well as in Poland, Hungary, Mexico, Costa Rica, Germany, Russia, and China.

Dr. Parker served on several academic and community committees, with various roles in each: Academic Policies and Procedures Committee, chair; Deans' Council, member; Graduate Council, member; Summer School Advisory Council, chair; Off-Campus Facilities Advisory Council, chair; Advisory Council for Academic Computing, member; Student Affairs Budget Council, member; Advisory Board of the Appalachian Journal, member; "An Appalachian Summer" Advisory Board, member; International Studies Council, member; Task Force on Distance Learning, chair; Post-Tenure Review Committee, University of North Carolina System, member; Post Tenure Review Committee at Appalachian, chair; Committee on Conflicts of Interest/Commitment, chair; Appeals Committee, chair; NCAA Reaffirmation Self-Study Committee, chair; and Gender Equity Committee, member. Dr. Parker also served on various building committees.

Parker's professional affiliations include the following organizations: the North American Association of Summer Sessions, North Carolina Association of Summer Sessions; North Carolina Adult Education Association; North Carolina Institute for Choral Arts; Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia; North Carolina Association of Colleges and Universities; North Carolina Choral Directors Association; American Choral Directors Association; International Council of Fine Arts Deans; Music Educators National Conference; Phi Kappa Lambda; Phi Kappa Phi; Board of Directors, Hiddenite Cultural Center; Board of Directors, Appalachian Consortium; Board of Directors, North Carolina Music Educators; Board of Directors, Western North Carolina Library Network; Boone Kiwanis Club; Board of Directors, North Carolina Adult Education Association; and Board of Directors, Appalachian Rural Systemic Initiative.

Awards received by Parker include a Commendation Medal for lifetime service to the Boy Scouts of America, a Meritorious Service Award for outstanding service to the North Carolina Association of Summer Sessions, and a Laurel Leaves Award for lifetime contribution to Appalachian studies given by The Appalachian Consortium.

Dr. Parker retired June 30, 2004, and was awarded emeritus status by the Board of Trustees. He is still an active musician and is in frequent demand as a conductor.

Sources: Appalachian State University files and long association.

-Dr. Richard D. Howe