Jane Parker-Smith Explained

Birth Date:	20 May 1950
Birth Place:	Northampton, United Kingdom
Death Place:	London, United Kingdom
Instrument:	Organ

Jane Caroline Rebecca Parker-Smith (1950–2020) was a British classical organist.^{[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]} Her obituary in The Guardian said she had "a stellar international career, popular with audiences for her wide-ranging sympathies and jaw-dropping virtuosity".

Personal life and education

Jane Caroline Rebecca Smith was born on 20 May 1950 in Northampton and moved soon after to Hampshire where she was educated at Barton Peveril Grammar School in Eastleigh. She then studied at the Royal College of Music, at first taking piano, cello and harpsichord before changing to the organ. She used the name Parker-Smith professionally from her debut recital aged 20: Parker was her mother's maiden name. She studied under, organist of Westminster Cathedral, whom she "acknowledged ... as the most important musical influence of her life", and Jean Langlais in Paris.

She married John Gadney (died 2012) in 1996, and became stepmother to three children. She died on 24 June 2020.

Career

Parker-Smith performed at the BBC Proms in 1972.^[8]

Select discography

• Jane Parker-Smith at the Grand Organ of Armagh Cathedral. ASV Records.
• Louis James Alfred Lefébure-Wély. Romantische Orgelmusik. Jane Parker-Smith on the organ of St Nikolaus, Bergen-Enkheim, Frankfurt am Main. Motette-Verlag.
• Popular French Romantics Volume 1. Jane Parker-Smith on the organ of Coventry Cathedral. ASV Records.
• Popular French Romantics Volume 2. Jane Parker-Smith on the organ of Beauvais Cathedral. ASV Records.
• Saint-Saëns - Symphony No. 3 'The Organ. London Philharmonic Orchestra. EMI Classics.
• Widor Organ Symphonies 5 & 7. Jane Parker-Smith on the organ of St Eustache, Paris. ASV Records.
• Janacek: Glagolitic Mass & Sinfonietta. City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (Dirigent: Simon Rattle). EMI Classics.
• Romantic and Virtuoso Works for Organ (Vol. 1). Jane Parker-Smith at the Goll organ of, Memmingen. Avie Records.
• Romantic and Virtuoso Works for Organ (Vol. 2). Jane Parker-Smith at the Great Seifert Organ of, Kevelaer. Avie Records.
• Romantic and Virtuoso Works for Organ (Vol. 3). Jane Parker-Smith at the Organ of the Church of in Rhede. Avie Records.

External links

• Web site: Jane Parker-Smith (official website) . https://web.archive.org/web/20210316152619/http://www.janeparkersmith.com/ . 16 March 2021.

Guardian Obit for Jane Parker-Smith https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/30/jane-parker-smith-obituary

Notes and References

1. Book: International Who's who in Music and Musicians' Directory . 2000 . Routledge . 9780948875533 . 492 . David M Cummings . 12 November 2021.
2. News: Rickards . Guy. Jane Parker-Smith obituary . 11 November 2021 . The Guardian . 30 July 2020 . en.
3. News: Jane Parker-Smith dead at 70 . The Diapason . 11 November 2021 . 10 July 2020 . en.
4. News: From the archives: interview with Jane Parker-Smith . 11 November 2021 . Rhinegold . en.
5. News: Jane Parker-Smith, virtuoso organist who brought glamour and insight to her playing – obituary . 11 November 2021 . The Telegraph . 29 June 2020.
6. News: Obituary: Jane Parker-Smith . 11 November 2021 . www.churchtimes.co.uk . 7 August 2020.
7. News: Britse organiste Jane Parker-Smith (70) overleden . 11 November 2021 . orgelnieuws.nl . 26 June 2020 . nl.
8. Web site: Prom 47 19:30 Thu 7 Sep 1972 Royal Albert Hall . BBC . 12 November 2021.