Robert Parker (musician)

Robert Parker CMG (9 January 1847 – 20 February 1937) was a New Zealand organist, choirmaster and conductor.

[1] He received his music education, studying violin, piano and organ, from the organist George Cooper, as a chorister at St Paul's Cathedral and at the London Academy of Music and Queens' College, Cambridge.

[1] Parker emigrated to Christchurch in 1869 becoming organist and choirmaster at the Church of St John the Baptist .

[1] In 1888 he began New Zealand Music Festivals encouraging composers such as Alfred Hill and Maughan Barnett.

[1][2] The writer Katherine Mansfield based the character of the piano teacher Mr Bullen in her short story The Wind Blows on Parker.