MEET+MR.+PARKER



Frank C. Parker is in his 14th year as the Director of Instrumental Music at Quakertown Community High School. As an undergraduate, Mr. Parker studied wind conducting with Peter Loel Boonshaft, choral conducting with Richard Schantz, and saxophone with Roy Martin, Neil Wetzel, Frank DiBussolo, and Larry Koch. Mr. Parker was a founding member of the Moravian College Jazz Quartet and the Moravian College Dixieland Band as well performing as the lead alto for the Moravian Big Band and the Muhlenberg Big Band. He has a wealth of experience as a saxophonist with big bands, blues bands, and variety bands in the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia and has performed as far away as Great Britain and the British Virgin Islands.

Mr. Parker has been an integral part of the strong jazz tradition in the Quakertown Community School District, first as a student and now as an educator. Mr. Parker directed the award-winning Milford Middle School Jazz Band from 1998 - 2004. The Milford Jazz Band received nothing less than a superior rating at 26 consecutive jazz festivals during a six-year period. Mr. Parker is proud to continue the tradition of jazz excellence at Quakertown Community High School. The Jazz Ensemble strives to preserve the great American Jazz Tradition, while promoting the art form for future generations.

At Quakertown High School, Mr. Parker directs the Freshman Concert Band, High School Symphonic Band, QCHS Wind Symphony, the Jazz Ensemble, numerous small instrumental music ensembles, and is co-director of the award winning “Panther” Marching Band. Ensembles under Mr. Parker’s direction have performed at the Pennsylvania Music Educator’s Association All-State Conference seven times. Highlights include performances by the Milford Middle School Wind Ensemble in 2003, the QCHS Symphonic Band in 2007, 2011, and 2015, and the QCHS Wind Symphony in 2017. In addition, the Quakertown Community High School Jazz Ensemble performed at the 2008 MENC National Conference, the 2009 and 2013 PMEA Conferences, and the 2013 NAfME Eastern Division Conference. The band had the honor of performing with legendary jazz trombonist, Bill Watrous, in the spring of 2008, and saxophone legend, Blue Lou Marini in the spring of 2012. In addition, the QCHS Jazz Ensemble has recently had the great opportunity to participate in master classes with The Preservation Hall Jazz Band, The Glenn Miller Orchestra, and Maria Schneider.

In addition, Mr. Parker has taught saxophone lessons for the past thirty years. Many of his students have been selected for PMEA district, region, and state band festivals. He is an active clinician, adjudicator, and guest conductor, having recently conducted the inaugural PMEA District 9 Freshman Honors Band, the Luzerne County Honors Band, the PMEA District 10 Elementary Honors band and the PMEA District 10 7th/8th Grade Honor Band. He is a member of PMEA, NAfME, PA Bandmasters Association, NBA, WASBE, QCEA, PSEA, NEA, and has been nominated for Who’s Who Among American Teachers.

Mr. Parker resides in Quakertown, PA with his amazing wife of 25 years, Denise. Their daughter, Natalie, an honor student at LaSalle University, recently graduated from Quakertown Community High School, where she has been a section leader for the Panther Marching Band, lead alto for the QCHS Jazz Ensemble, has been recognized as an outstanding jazz soloist numerous times, and served as Drum Major for the 2013-2014 marching band season.

In his free time, Mr. Parker is an avid golfer and a huge Phillies Phan. He loves to spend time with his family during the summer months and during holidays.