Parker Ramsay : Cambridge Young Composer of the Year 2008

Sixteen year-old Parker Ramsay, of Dickson County, Tennessee, is a year twelve student at King's School, Ely, where he serves as Sixth Form Organ Scholar at Ely Cathedral, and is recipient of the School's music scholarship.

Parker was awarded First Prize in 2007 Senior Division and 2006 Junior Division Music Teachers National Association National Composition Competitions in the United States,
and was a prize winner in the 2007 American Harp Society National Competition, and finalist in the 2007 American Guild of Organists Quimby Competition Southern Region.

He earned DipABRSM (with Distinction) in both Organ and Harp in 2006, and is a multiple recipient of the Associated Board's Hedy King Robinson Award for Distinction marks in Music Theory through grade eight.

He served as organ scholar in June 2006 at the Royal School of Church Music course in New York, and attended both Style and Technique and Prospective Organ Scholar courses, Oundle Festival (UK) in July 2006, followed by Prospective Organ Scholar and Eton Choral Courses in 2007.

Recent appearances included the world premiere of his setting of Jubilate Deo, commissioned by St. Alban's Episcopal Church in Davidson, North Carolina, and the premiere of his composition Gaudeamus, conducted by Dr. Timothy Sharp, Dean of Fine Arts at Rhodes College in Memphis. In January 2007, he joined the Boy Choir and Young Men's Chorus of Vanderbilt University as harpist and organist for a tour of northern Germany, which featured portions of Gaudeamus and his setting of Skye Boat Song, commissioned by Music Director Hazel Somerville.  He served as harpist for the December 2007 performance of Benjamin Britten's Ceremony of Carols, performed in the Lady Chapel of Ely Cathedral by the Cathedral Girls' Choir, conducted by  Louise Reid.

Parker began harp study at age eleven with Carol McClure, Artistic Director of The Harp School (USA) and organ study at age twelve with Wilma Jensen, Music Director Emerita of St. George's Episcopal Church in Nashville.  His harp studies continue with Ms. McClure, and with Professor Skaila Kanga, Head of Harp at RAM.  He presently studies organ and church music with Paul Trepte, organist of Ely Cathedral.