In 1984, he was the first Canadian to win the LeedsInternational Piano Competition. That same year, he performed for Queen Elizabeth II.

8 years later, he judged the inaugural edition of the Honens International Piano Competition, Canada’s Grand Slam of international piano competitions.

Meet Jon Kimura Parker (known as “Jackie” to friends new and old), an award-winning pianist who also serves as the Artistic Director of Honens.

In this episode, Jackie and Amos discuss Jackie’s trailblazing career throughout Juilliard, throughout the 1984 Leeds Competition, Britain’s Grand Slam of international piano competitions, and beyond.

2025 is also a special year, as the newest edition of the Honens International Piano Competition will take place in October. Jackie explains the philosophy of the “Complete Artist” at Honens, as well as the innovations that have come out of such a philosophy in judging, in competition organisation, and in music education.

Jackie’s website: https://www.jonkimuraparker.com/

Honens’ website: https://www.honens.com/

Tomorrow by Scott Buckley – released under CC-BY 4.0. www.scottbuckley.com.auOther music composed by: Amos Vang

- CHAPTERS -

0:00 – Introduction

3:28 – HONE IN ON HONENS!

3:43 – What inspired Jon Kimura Parker to pursue piano?

6:31 – What were the most profound lessons that Jon KimuraParker learned from each of his piano teachers?

17:19 – When did Jon Kimura Parker feel that he was readyfor Leeds?

21:08 – How did Jon Kimura Parker prepare for Leeds?

24:12 – Many musicians still work regularly with coacheseven after going professional. Pianists, on the other hand, do not really do this.

25:29 – A pianist’s mindset tends to be very independent andeven isolated.

29:01 – Jon Kimura Parker describes every single round ofthe Leeds International Piano Competition!

33:41 – Jon Kimura Parker actually had a MEMORY SLIP at Leeds!

35:15 – Jon Kimura Parker performed the Barber Sonata atLeeds, with a BROKEN SOSTENUTO PEDAL!

38:35 – Jon Kimura Parker performed the Brahms PianoConcerto No. 1 at the finals of Leeds.

41:13 – Jon Kimura Parker won 1st prize, but something HILARIOUS happened!

44:10 – Queen Elizabeth II commissioned Jon Kimura Parker toperform for her. This was her reaction.

47:08 – Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip were genuinelykind, caring people.

49:16 – Amos performed Liszt’s Dante Sonata in thepast. This is how he handled the difficult technical parts.

50:23 – Liszt, Beethoven, and Romantic era composers hadSIGNIFICANTLY lighter pianos. Modern pianos are very heavy.

53:17 – Heavier pianos actually give good experience forpianists by training up the stability of their technique.

55:23 – Jon Kimura Parker appeared on a children’s TV show,“Under the Umbrella Tree”.

1:02:16 – Amos Vang uses sports analogies and terminologiesto explain classical music competitions and festivals.

1:03:33 – Jon Kimura Parker has the difficult job of deciding who wins Honens.

1:04:05 – What is musicality to Jon Kimura Parker?

1:07:39 – Who is Esther Honens? This is her legend.

1:13:46 – A day in the life of Honens Artistic Director JonKimura Parker

1:17:02 – In 2018, one of the jury members cancelled!

1:20:00 – Curation of Honens content during the pandemic

1:22:34 – Managing Nicolas Namoradze’s and Illia Ovcharenko’s careers during the pandemic

1:24:14 – What is the Complete Artist to Jon Kimura Parker?

1:34:27 – Nicolas Namoradze got a degree in neuroscienceduring the pandemic.

1:36:09 – How does Honens define the CompleteArtist?

1:42:37 – Honens’s approach challenges many misconceptionsof classical music

1:43:04 – How can new audiences watch and enjoy Honens andother piano competitions?

1:44:50 – Jon Kimura Parker explains Honens’s judgingprocess in FULL DETAIL.

1:50:57 – Canada has the potential to become a majorclassical music centre on the world stage!

1:54:52 – What is Jon Kimura Parker’s advice to those whowant to pursue a career in classical music, especially piano?