Dr. Rachel Park is an active solo and collaborative pianist who unleashes tremendous passion and color in her performance. Have given more than a thousand concerts and recitals with various vocal and instrumental soloists and ensembles, she dedicated herself to piano and music education with practical applications and insight gained through wide performance experience. Her student-centered philosophy of education aims at creating meaningful and productive learning opportunity for students.
Currently serving at Jacksonville State University as an assistant professor piano for the David L. Walters Department of Music. Dr. Park received Doctoral of Musical Arts in Church Music and Piano Performance degree from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth, TX where she earned her Master of Music degree. She graduated from the Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul, South Korea for her Bachelor of Music degree.
After completing her undergraduate study, Dr. Park joined the Pilgrim Ensemble in Korea and served for seven years as a pianist, giving numerous concerts in cities throughout Korea, China, Thailand, Taiwan, Iraq, Kuwait, and the United States, performing in renowned halls such as Carnegie Hall, Isaac Stern Auditorium in New York, the Embassy of Korea in Washington D.C., and the Crystal Cathedral in California. From 2012 to 2016, Dr. Park served as the pianist and organist for the Tim Zimmerman and the King's Brass performing more than 100 concerts per year throughout the United States.
Dr. Park was named an honorary ambassador for the Korean organization Food for the Hungry International. She served as cultural arts honorary ambassador to the Seoul Metro as one of the members of the Pilgrim Ensemble. She won the Minister of Education Award in South Korea taking first prize at the 17th National Student Music Competition. She also received the James McKinney Outstanding Performer Award, the Wayne (Polly) McNeely Piano Award, and the Cathinka Venth Scholarship from the European Club. She has also performed as a soloist with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra upon winning the Piano Texas International Academy & Festival Concerto Competition in 2011.
Dr. Park released her piano solo album ‘The Love and My Songs’ with her own arrangements in 2014. She is a member of MTNA (Music Teachers National Association), ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), and Asian Society of Arts.