Christian Kluxen, conductor
Christian Kluxen is now in his tenth season as Music Director of the Victoria Symphony in Canada, following a five-year tenure as Chief Conductor of the Arctic Philharmonic in Norway.
Kluxen has been described in the press as “a dynamic, charismatic figure” who “forms the music with an impressive vertical power of emotion and a focus on the grand form”, conducting “with exemplary clarity and a heavenly warmth”. He is recognized for his sincere and transparent leadership, innovative programming, and his bold, imaginative, and energetic interpretations, showcased both in his MD and guest work.
Alongside his many and varied commitments with the Victoria Symphony, recent and forthcoming guest engagements include Turku Philharmonic (where he was Principal Guest Conductor for three seasons) Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Pacific Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra, Copenhagen Philharmonic, Odense Symphony, Aalborg Symphony and Norrköping Symphony. A fruitful and inspiring relationship with the Arctic Philharmonic, whom Kluxen led for five years as Chief Conductor, resulted in numerous exhilarating performances of a wide variety of repertoire, as well as several acclaimed recordings.
Jon Kimura Parker, piano
Pianist Jon Kimura Parker is celebrated for his charisma, enthusiasm, and dynamic performances. A veteran of the international stage, he has appeared at the Berlin Philharmonie, Carnegie Hall, London’s South Bank, Sydney Opera House, and Beijing Concert Hall. He is Creative Partner of the Minnesota Orchestra, Artistic Director of the Honens International Piano Competition, and Artistic Advisor for the Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival.
Recent seasons have included concerto appearances with the Phoenix, Peninsula, San Antonio, Rhode Island, and Kansas City orchestras, recitals with Portland Piano International, and collaborations with Cho-Liang Lin at Chamber Music International and Paul Huang at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. He tours as a founding member of the Montrose Trio with Martin Beaver and Clive Greensmith.
A versatile collaborator, Parker has performed with Doc Severinsen, Audra McDonald, Bobby McFerrin, Pablo Ziegler, and Stewart Copeland, and has accompanied Frederica von Stade, Susan Graham, and Luca Pisaroni. He is a committed educator, serving as Professor of Piano at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, lecturing at Juilliard, and giving masterclasses worldwide.
His discography includes recordings ranging from Mozart and Chopin to Barber, Stravinsky, and John Adams; his recent album Fantasy was praised by Musical Toronto for its “rich soul and great artistic depth.” A Gold Medalist of the 1984 Leeds International Piano Competition, Parker is an Officer of the Order of Canada and holds honorary doctorates from the University of British Columbia and the Royal Conservatory of Music.
