Alice Parker is one of the wisest, most settled musicians I’ve ever spent time with. She knows what works for her, knows what her opinions are, and knows how to express what she hears in her mind.
That’s what has made it all the more inspiring, in my time with her, to see the way she continues to still search for new musical ground to explore. When I was with her this past summer, we helped her with some copyediting for several of her newer pieces – pieces where she was trying new techniques, sonorities, ideas.
At 97, Alice knows what she knows, but she isn’t interested in stopping her exploration – in stopping at all! She keeps creating and exploring. May we all be so wise. Happy birthday, Alice!