{"id":106170,"date":"2023-12-12T10:23:59","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T15:23:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=106170"},"modified":"2023-12-15T07:11:55","modified_gmt":"2023-12-15T12:11:55","slug":"faculty-feature-daniel-parsley","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/articles\/2023\/faculty-feature-daniel-parsley\/","title":{"rendered":"Faculty Feature: Daniel Parsley"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin news-block-editorial-leadin is-style-side-by-side has-media has-box has-media-focus-center-middle has-secondary-theme\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1707\" height=\"2560\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2023\/07\/Parsley.Headshot-scaled-e1689018672837.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-prepress-tag\">CFA Faculty<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFaculty Feature: Daniel Parsley\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"deck\">Meet Boston University School of Music&#8217;s director of choral activities<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar news-prepress-layout-metabar\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">December 12, 2023<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/authors\/addison-schmidt-com26\/\">Addison Schmidt (COM&#8217;26)<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-introparagraph news-block-editorial-introparagraph is-style-dropcap-dimensional has-dropcap has-dropcap-color-secondary\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-introparagraph-content\"><p>Meet Dr. Daniel Parsley, who recently joined Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Music as assistant professor in Choral Conducting and the Director of Choral Activities. A native of Cincinnati, Ohio, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/about\/contact-directions\/directory\/daniel-parsley\/\">Parsley<\/a> has enjoyed a storied career as a conductor, teacher, scholar and musician, one which has taken him across the globe.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay news-block-editorial-photoessay wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-full-f\">\n<div class=\"photo-f\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"657\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-2-1024x657.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-106175\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-2-1024x657.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-2-636x408.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-2-768x493.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-2-1536x986.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-2-2048x1315.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-2-1558x1000.jpg 1558w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background has-secondary-background-color\">Pictured:<em> Dr. Parsley leads a performance of choral orchestral works by Franz Schubert and contemporary composer Jessie Montgomery.&nbsp;<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before coming to BU in 2023, Dr. Parsley was the Director of Choral Activities and program Head at Thomas More University, as well as the associate director for the Cincinnati Youth Choir. Parsley is also associate Conductor of the Cincnatti Chamber Orchestra, and has performed with several choruses as a singer in his own right, including the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus, Toledo Opera, and Tuscia Opera, among others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Parsley has received national recognition for his work, including his role in the <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.walkwithamal.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Walk with Amal<\/a> project, a 12 foot puppet of a Syrian refugee child who has become a global symbol exemplifying the fight for representation for refugees everywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this faculty feature Q&amp;A, Parsley speaks on his work with Amal, his transition from Cincinnati to BU, and offers some wisdom to students pursuing interdisciplinary music careers of all kinds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay news-block-editorial-photoessay alignwide wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-thirds-2-1\">\n<div class=\"photo-2\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Parsley-Cincinnati-Chamber-Orchestra-projections-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-106179\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Parsley-Cincinnati-Chamber-Orchestra-projections-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Parsley-Cincinnati-Chamber-Orchestra-projections-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Parsley-Cincinnati-Chamber-Orchestra-projections-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Parsley-Cincinnati-Chamber-Orchestra-projections-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Parsley-Cincinnati-Chamber-Orchestra-projections-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Parsley-Cincinnati-Chamber-Orchestra-projections-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Parsley-Cincinnati-Chamber-Orchestra-projections-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Parsley-Cincinnati-Chamber-Orchestra-projections-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Parsley-Cincinnati-Chamber-Orchestra-projections-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"photo-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"821\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducts-Portland-Symphony-1-821x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-106177\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducts-Portland-Symphony-1-821x1024.jpg 821w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducts-Portland-Symphony-1-510x636.jpg 510w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducts-Portland-Symphony-1-768x958.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducts-Portland-Symphony-1-1232x1536.jpg 1232w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducts-Portland-Symphony-1-802x1000.jpg 802w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducts-Portland-Symphony-1.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 821px) 100vw, 821px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background has-secondary-background-color\">Pictured, above left: <em>Dr. Parsley leads a performance with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra featuring award winner multimedia projection artist Sharon Huizinga.&nbsp;<\/em>Right: <em>Dr. Parsley conducts the Portland Symphony Orchestra for a POPS subscription series concert in November 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a news-block-editorial-q-and-a\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-title\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-title-heading\">Q<span>&amp;<\/span>A<\/h2><h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-title-subheading\">AN INTERVIEW WITH DANIEL PARSLEY<\/h4><\/div>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">CFA:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">What courses do you teach within the School of Music? What groups do you direct?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Parsley:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> I am the Assistant Professor of Choral Conducting, and the Director of Choral Activities. I am also the director for the graduate program in conducting, so I teach graduate choral conducting seminars as well as graduate choral literature sequences \u2014 anything related to the choral area.<br><br>I also direct the BU Singers, which is our smaller chamber ensemble. It ranges anywhere from forty to fifty to sixty singers, but consists mostly undergraduate music majors, as well as a large mix of people from across the entirety of the university. I also direct the symphonic chorus, which is about 125 singers which come from all over the campus \u2014 students range from College of Fine Arts students to students in BU\u2019s law school, which is amazing. They\u2019re a treat to work with, and they\u2019re the featured chorus for the [annual] Symphony Hall concert.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">CFA:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Why did you decide to make the transition from working in Cincinnati to working at BU?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Parsley:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> Because BU is just excellent. I recently had my first concert with my students, and they were amazing. All of the students I have worked with so far are overwhelmingly smart, and capable, and work really hard \u2014 and just good people.<br><br>Life in Cincinnati was great, and it took a lot to leave that city, but the opportunity to work at BU was something you simply do not pass up. Not only do you have amazing undergrads, you have a world class graduate conducting program that we have been continuing to build up for the next generation of choral conductors.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay news-block-editorial-photoessay alignwide wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-full-f\">\n<div class=\"photo-f\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-BU-Symphonic-Chorus-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-106174\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-BU-Symphonic-Chorus-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-BU-Symphonic-Chorus-636x477.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-BU-Symphonic-Chorus-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-BU-Symphonic-Chorus-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-BU-Symphonic-Chorus-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-BU-Symphonic-Chorus-1333x1000.jpg 1333w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-BU-Symphonic-Chorus-1600x1200.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background has-secondary-background-color\">Pictured, above: <em>The Boston University Symphonic Chorus, a 125-member chorus that includes students, faculty, and staff from across the university, after a rehearsal for their performance of Mozart Requiem led by Dr. Parsley.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bu-pullquote news-block-bu-pullquote alignwide is-style-modern has-image has-image-focus-center-middle has-secondary-theme\"><div class=\"wp-block-bu-pullquote-inner\"><blockquote><div class=\"container-lockup\"><div class=\"container-icon-outer\"><div class=\"container-icon-inner\"><img class=\"bu-blocks-background has-background-opacity has-background-opacity-60 wp-image-102164\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2023\/07\/Parsley.Headshot-scaled-e1689018672837.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/div><\/div><div class=\"container-text\"><hr\/><div class=\"quote-sizing\">BU is just excellent. I recently had my first concert with my students, and they were amazing. All of the students I have worked with so far are overwhelmingly smart, and capable, and work really hard \u2014 and just good people.<\/div><footer class=\"caption\"><br\/>Dr. Daniel Parsley<\/footer><hr\/><\/div><\/div><\/blockquote><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a news-block-editorial-q-and-a\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">CFA:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> How has being a professional singer in your own right changed the way you teach?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Parsley:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> To understand how the instrument [of the voice works] \u2014 which is unlike a violin, where you can see how the instrument works physically \u2014 being a singer is just a little bit different. You are the instrument, so I tend to teach singing from a technical standpoint.<br><br>If you walk into a choral classroom of mine, you will see a life-sized skeleton, with muscular attachments and bones that actually move. The way I look at pedagogy is that people need information, anatomy, to understand how singing works.<br><br>I consider singing to be a sport, something that requires an understanding of how the body functions, how everything is connected, and once a singer gets that information, it becomes easier to correct any issues and build technique. We all learn differently, so having all of the tools in the classroom is very helpful. I always tell students to bring their \u201cstudio technique\u201d into the classroom: that is, whatever you bring to the studio, bring to the classroom. You need real, full singing that is informed by style to learn and do all of those wonderful things really well.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">CFA:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Describe your work with the \u201cThe Walk\u201d project with Little Amal, a performance art piece starring a large, partly-animatronic puppet named \u201cLittle Amal,\u201d who has been featured across the globe as a symbol for human migration and cultural diversity. How did you get involved, and why do you think this project has resonated with so many people across the globe?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Parsley:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> I\u2019m the associate conductor for the Cincinnati chamber orchestra, and in Cincinnati we have a festival series called \u201cWe Are One,\u201d which focuses on DEI issues regarding under-consulted composers or communities in classical music.<br><br>We had just had a wonderful festival on our justice system from the context of Black Americans in 2022, so we were programming another festival around about immigration and asylum. I had always wanted to interact with the Little Amal puppet, because I thought it was so amazing, and we were eventually able to craft a story for Amal that related to the story of Cincinnati and its citizens. Little Amal walked across the Roebling Bridge, which is a historic bridge in Cincinnati, where she was greeted by the mayor and hundreds of children, as well as a world premier piece by Celcila McDowel called \u201cThe Little Girl From Aleppo,\u201d which premiered in the Cincinnati Freedom center with strings from the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra. It was an amazing feat.<br><br>BU students were able to take part in the Boston leg as well, when Amal visited Dewey Square in downtown Boston in September. What [\u201cThe Walk\u201d project] does is so relevant, and I think their art is a reflection of what is happening in society and in our systems and social structures \u2014 it\u2019s both aesthetic and scientific.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay news-block-editorial-photoessay alignwide wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-square-s-1\">\n<div class=\"photo-s\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"960\" height=\"958\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-Amal-Cincinnati-Orchestra-We-are-One-Festival.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-106173\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-Amal-Cincinnati-Orchestra-We-are-One-Festival.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-Amal-Cincinnati-Orchestra-We-are-One-Festival-636x636.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-Amal-Cincinnati-Orchestra-We-are-One-Festival-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-Amal-Cincinnati-Orchestra-We-are-One-Festival-768x766.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-Amal-Cincinnati-Orchestra-We-are-One-Festival-500x500.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-Amal-Cincinnati-Orchestra-We-are-One-Festival-550x550.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-Amal-Cincinnati-Orchestra-We-are-One-Festival-710x710.jpg 710w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-Amal-Cincinnati-Orchestra-We-are-One-Festival-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-Amal-Cincinnati-Orchestra-We-are-One-Festival-600x600.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"photo-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"721\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Little-Amal-Cincinnati-1-721x1024.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-106178\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Little-Amal-Cincinnati-1-721x1024.jpeg 721w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Little-Amal-Cincinnati-1-447x636.jpeg 447w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Little-Amal-Cincinnati-1-768x1092.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Little-Amal-Cincinnati-1-1081x1536.jpeg 1081w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Little-Amal-Cincinnati-1-704x1000.jpeg 704w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Little-Amal-Cincinnati-1.jpeg 1441w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 721px) 100vw, 721px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background has-secondary-background-color\">Pictured, above left: <em>Dr. Parsley conducts the world premiere treble arrangement of Cecilia McDowall&#8217;s &#8220;The Girl from Aleppo&#8221; with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a news-block-editorial-q-and-a\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">CFA:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> What&#8217;s been your most rewarding experience so far working at Boston<br>University?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Parsley:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">Getting to work with the BU singers. We recently had our first concert with the Boston Children\u2019s Chorus in Marsh Chapel, with an audience of 150 people \u2014 it was a wonderful time, and it brought an energy I haven\u2019t felt so far at BU. The passion and drive of these students is] amazing, as is as the way they reach out to their surrounding community on campus and beyond \u2014 for example, we\u2019ll have a concert in Brookline as well as by the Commons, so we\u2019re bringing music into Boston as well as on campus, which is just so exciting.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">CFA:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\">What advice would you give to students who are interested in going into conducting and teaching, or even professional singing and performing?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Parsley:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> <em>Breathe. <\/em><br><br>When I teach graduate choral conducting, we always joke that the title of our next book, which we\u2019ll co-author together, is \u201cBreathe,\u201d because so much of music and art requires breath. I can typically give people information on their performance by the quality of their breath, and so I think that\u2019s the key.<br><br>I think the second part is to take every single opportunity you can, even if it may not follow through. I cannot tell you the amount of times I was assigned as a cover conductor, and I ended up landing a job for that orchestra, or was chosen to travel to conduct a chorus because I just chose to say yes.<br><br>Just take the opportunities \u2013 you never know! The acquisition of those really diverse skills are the things that set people apart, and they\u2019re taken from those opportunities you take advantage of.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay news-block-editorial-photoessay wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-full-f\">\n<div class=\"photo-f\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-106176\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/12\/Daniel-Parsley-conducting-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a news-block-editorial-q-and-a\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">CFA:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> How has traveling around the world to conduct and perform benefited your education as a musician and your work as a teacher?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Parsley:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> It\u2019s given me the experience of seeing how other cultures work, and how other musicians are approaching music and art.<br><br>Thinking about my experience working in Korea, the way in which their musicianship operates within college education is absolutely stunning. When I was in Germany and Austria teaching, conducting pedagogy there was also very different \u2014 not different in a bad way, but in a way that really informed my teaching by showing me what opportunities are worth offering to my students. Traveling gives you the ability to be flexible, as a mentor and within my pedagogy, so you can adjust quickly as an instructor and draw from different areas to really create a learning environment that is best for students.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">CFA:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> Describe the research you\u2019re conducting.<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Parsley:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> My research is on \u201cbody mapping\u201d \u2014 the idea that students need to understand size, location, structure and function of their body in order to know how to properly produce sound. It\u2019s like giving someone a map that has all the information they need to perform.<br><br>What I\u2019ve done so far is create a curriculum guide for collegiate educators to apply small, five to ten minute body mapping lessons as a part of warm-ups so they can implant those elements into their own teaching.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-question\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">CFA:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> Who has been your most influential teacher in your time as a musician?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-answer\"><span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-name\">Parsley:<\/span> <span class=\"wp-block-editorial-q-and-a-content\"> I can\u2019t pick! I\u2019ve had amazing teachers, some that are good friends and colleagues, many of whom have these amazing histories as performers and musicians.<br><br>My studies at the University of Cincinnati were amazing \u2014 I learned so much about style and how to put things together on a grand scale. My friend and teacher Bret Scott (Professor of Ensembles and Conducting at the University of Cincinnati) has also taught me so much about gesture and clarity.<br><br>My experiences in Bowling Green and Xavier University were amazing as well. All of these different places and all of these people have supported me throughout my career.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>CFA\u2019s Faculty Feature series spotlights the exceptional faculty from across Boston University College of Fine Arts. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\t<section class=\"wp-block-editorial-collection-billboard news-block-editorial-collection-billboard\">\n\n\t\t<h3 class=\"collection-billboard-intro-title\">This Series<\/h3>\n\t\t<article class=\"collection-billboard-article\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"collection-billboard-media\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"collection-navigation-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"800\" height=\"800\" src=\"\/cfa\/files\/2023\/05\/Goeres_Nancy_800x800-min.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/05\/Goeres_Nancy_800x800-min.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/05\/Goeres_Nancy_800x800-min-636x636.jpeg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/05\/Goeres_Nancy_800x800-min-150x150.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/05\/Goeres_Nancy_800x800-min-768x768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/05\/Goeres_Nancy_800x800-min-500x500.jpeg 500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/05\/Goeres_Nancy_800x800-min-550x550.jpeg 550w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/05\/Goeres_Nancy_800x800-min-710x710.jpeg 710w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/05\/Goeres_Nancy_800x800-min-300x300.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/files\/2023\/05\/Goeres_Nancy_800x800-min-600x600.jpeg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"collection-billboard-media-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/articles\/2023\/faculty-feature-nancy-goeres\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-billboard-media-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>Faculty Feature: Nancy Goeres<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"collection-billboard-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"collection-billboard-small-title\">Also in<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"collection-billboard-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/collections\/faculty-features\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-billboard-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>Faculty Features<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"collection-billboard-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"collection-billboard-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-date\">March 29, 2023<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/articles\/2023\/faculty-feature-rebecca-bourgault\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-card-article-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Faculty Feature: R\u00e9becca Bourgault<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"collection-billboard-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-date\">November 8, 2022<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/articles\/2022\/faculty-feature-kelly-bylica\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-card-article-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Faculty Feature: Kelly Bylica<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"collection-billboard-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-date\">November 1, 2022<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/articles\/2022\/faculty-feature-felice-amato\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-card-article-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Faculty Feature: Felice Amato<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/collections\/faculty-features\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-billboard-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>Series home<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/article>\n\n\t<\/section>\n\t\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Pictured: Dr. Parsley leads a performance of choral orchestral works by Franz Schubert and contemporary composer Jessie Montgomery.&nbsp; Before coming to BU in 2023, Dr. Parsley was the Director of Choral Activities and program Head at Thomas More University, as well as the associate director for the Cincinnati Youth Choir. Parsley is also associate Conductor [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14125,"featured_media":106176,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"tags":[],"bu-publication":[192],"magazine-article-category":[],"magazine-topic":[],"news-article-category":[218,212],"news-topic":[],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/106170"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14125"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=106170"}],"version-history":[{"count":21,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/106170\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":106232,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/106170\/revisions\/106232"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/106176"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=106170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=106170"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=106170"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazine-article-category?post=106170"},{"taxonomy":"magazine-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/magazine-topic?post=106170"},{"taxonomy":"news-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-article-category?post=106170"},{"taxonomy":"news-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-topic?post=106170"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=106170"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/cfa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=106170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}