Shon Parker is a diverse vocalist, arranger and educator with a variety of experience in styles including pop, rock, opera, classical, and jazz. Shon earned his M.M. from Western Michigan University in Performance and his Bachelor of Arts in Music from Washington State University with a minor in jazz studies. Shon has studied with educators including Steve Zegree, Diana Spradling, Sheila Converse and John Weiss.
Shon’s performance experiences include as a member of the Idaho-Washington Chorale, (notably bass soloist for Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G Minor). Shon is musical director for multiple contemporary musical projects in the Twin Cities. Highlight performances include the IAJE conference in New York City, the Issac Stern Auditorium in Carnegie Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and the International Inventors Hall of Fame Ceremony in Akron, Ohio. Shon has shared the stage with artists including Terrence Blanchard, Fred Hersch, Darmon Meader, Ulysses Ownens Jr., Roger Treece and Janis Siegel. Both locally and abroad, he serves as a festival adjudicator, master class presenter, and was the Director of the McNally Smith College of Music Vocal Jazz Festival. Shon performs with the Shon Parker Quintet, the diverse music of the Weedies, has performed with multiple Vocal Jazz groups in the area and has been on stage in lead role characters in contemporary musicals.
Shon serves as Chair of the Voice Department at Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists, Adjunct Faculty at Augsburg University, and is a member of the Minnesota Music Educators Association and the American Choral Director’s Association.