Background
DMA, Michigan State University
Beginning July 1, 2026
Michael Parker is a conductor, clinician, and adjudicator and serves as Director of Athletic Bands at Northwestern University. In his role, he directs the “Wildcat” Marching Band, Basketball Band, Concert Band, and teaches courses in conducting in the Bienen School of Music. Prior to Northwestern, Parker completed his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in wind conducting at Michigan State University under the tutelage of Dr. Kevin Sedatole. At Michigan State, he assists with all aspects of the band program, including conducting all university concert bands, arranging music and writing drill for the Spartan Marching Band, directing the Spartan Brass women’s basketball and hockey pep bands, and serving as a teaching assistant for conducting and music education courses. His dissertation research focused on the transcription of selected movements from Sarah Kirkland Snider’s song cycle Unremembered for voice, chamber wind ensemble, and electronics.
A passionate advocate for new music, Dr. Parker has commissioned and premiered multiple new works for wind ensemble and chamber winds in his time both as a graduate assistant and as a public school teacher. He has participated in multiple conducting workshops and symposia, including being selected as a Conducting Fellow for the 2023 Reynolds Conducting Institute at the Midwest Clinic International Band and Orchestra Conference. During his doctoral studies, Parker served as chair of the dean’s Student Advisory Council at Michigan State, organizing and connecting student voice and ideas with administrative initiatives for the betterment of the student body of the College of Music.
Prior to his time at Michigan State, Dr. Parker served as director of bands at Ocean Lakes High School in Virginia Beach, VA. Under his direction, the marching and concert ensembles consistently received superior ratings at state marching and concert assessments, earning multiple Virginia Honor Band distinctions and contributing to the school’s Blue Ribbon Awards. He served as a contributing author to the book Musicianship: Improvising in Band and Orchestra, edited by David Stringham and H. Christian Bernard and published by GIA Publications.
Dr. Parker received his Master’s degree in wind conducting from Michigan State University and his Bachelor of Music degree in music education from James Madison University. In 2019, he was selected as the recipient of the JMU Outstanding Early Career Music Educator Award.