W.T. WHITE HIGH SCHOOL CHOIR DIRECTOR TO CONDUCT HIS FINAL CONCERT AT MEYERSON SYMPHONY CENTER
Choir Director Michael Parker and Dallas ISD
W.T. White High School choir director Michael Parker has accomplished a great deal during his 41-year career. His choirs at both Cary Middle School and W.T. White have consistently earned Sweepstakes awards and Division I ratings at UIL, several of his students have earned “outstanding performer” awards at the State Solo and Ensemble Contest, he has written several original musical reviews and he has been named teacher of the year at all four Dallas ISD campuses where he has taught. Under his direction, the W.T. White Showstoppers Choir has performed for the State Board of Education in Austin.
His final concert directing the Showstoppers is deserving of a special venue: The Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in the downtown Arts District. The performance will be held on Wednesday, May 21, and will fittingly be called “Mr. Parker’s Opus.” The special guest for the event is the W.T. White Alumni Choir under the direction of past W.T. White Choir Director Tom Council.
“W.T. White’s choir has been a tremendous source of pride for the community for many years because of Mr. Parker’s tireless efforts,” said Dallas ISD District 1 Trustee Elizabeth Jones, who represents the area. “This will be a special one-of-a-kind show that arts lovers throughout the city will appreciate. Attending it will be a great way to honor both Mr. Parker and his students.”
“Michael Parker has been more than a choir teacher for W.T. White students. He’s been a mentor, confidant and a positive influence on their development as young adults. He’s always gone the extra mile to help them succeed,” W.T. White principal Michelle Thompson said. “Under his direction, our choir program has been exemplary and the students have believed in his vision. The only way to honor him is by displaying the talent he’s nurtured and developed.”
“I am thrilled and honored to have my final concert with these beautiful students at the Meyerson,” said Parker. “It’s a dream to be able have them perform in this venue. They work very hard and I hope this is seen as a tribute to their work too.”
The 7 p.m. concert will feature a variety of performances from Parker’s students, both past and present. This will be the first time the Showstoppers choir has ever performed at the world-class symphony center. A choir of Mr. Parker’s former students will perform as well.
Regular admission tickets will be available at the school for $7 apiece; $5 for high school students. A limited number of special seating tickets will be available for $25 each from the W.T. White Alumni Association to help offset the cost of the event.
The Meyerson Symphony Center is located at 2301 Flora St., Dallas, Texas 75201. For more information about the concert, call (972) 502-6200. To contact the W.T. White Alumni Association for special loge seating, send an email to Brian Williamson at brian@bdwilliamsoncpa.com.
