Jesse Parker, D.M.A., who lead a life filled with music, passed away unexpectedly on June 8, 2024, one month shy of his 66th birthday.  Dr. Parker was the founder and Music Director of the chamber chorus Voices 21, the Artistic Director of the Chesapeake Chorale and Chamber Singers, and the Director of Music at Potomac United Methodist Church.  In addition, Dr. Parker lectured for the Lifelong Learning Institute at Montgomery College.

Jesse was born in Norfolk, Virginia.  Most of his youth was spent in Northern Virginia where he graduated from Fairfax High School. He received his Bachelors, Masters, and Doctorate degrees at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD.

Jesse was involved in music from a young age.  He played cello throughout his school years and became interested in conducting in high school. His love and passion for music, his exceptional style of conducting and his keen sense of humor made him the ideal director and educator. He was much loved and admired by those within his musical spheres and he will be sorely missed.  Jesse would want us to remember his life with laughter as we recount funny stories, experiences, and good times we had with him, of which there were many.

Besides his musical pursuits, Jesse enjoyed reading, traveling, watching and discussing Star Wars with his son, spending time laughing and adventuring with family, and sharing a good meal and bottle of wine with friends.

Before creating Voices 21 and joining the Chesapeake Chorale, he was the Manager and Associate Conductor of the Maryland Handel Festival and served on the faculties of the University of Maryland and Sweet Briar College. He studied conducting with Paul Traver at the University of Maryland, where the two prepared the University of Maryland Chorus for performances in the U.S. and Europe with many renowned conductors including Leonard Slatkin, Lorin Maazel, Georg Solti, Zubin Mehta, Antal Dorati, and John Nelson. Dr. Parker has been active in the Washington area for over 30 years, holding conducting positions in churches and with multiple community groups, some of which toured abroad to countries such as Ireland, Austria, France, Italy, and Costa Rica.

Jesse is survived by his wife, Renita, and son, Colin, of Laurel, MD, his sister, Susan Black, niece Sam Black, and nephew Dr. Jeb Black, of Virginia Beach, VA.

The memorial service will be held at Potomac United Methodist Church, 10300 Falls Road, Potomac, MD on Saturday, July 6th at 2:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to donate to a local music organization of your choice, in Jesse’s memory, to help keep the music alive. “If music be the food of love, play on.”

Cremation Services Direct (843-651-1194) of Myrtle Beach is assisting the family with the arrangements.