Meet the Musicians
Mrs. Parker hires musicians from the Clarksville community and its surrounding areas. These musicians are current APSU students, recent graduates from APSU and professional musicians in our community. Here are a few musicians that have played with the Ensemble: Serenade:
Eunice B. Lee: violin
Booyoung Lee is a professional violinist and passionate, Suzuki certified violin instructor at Madison Street Music and Arts Academy. She also teaches in her independent studio, Kids Prodigy Violin. She was one of the founding members of the Cross Classic Piano Trio in South Korea. Before graduating, she was one of members of Piano trio at APSU along with Mrs. Simone Parker and was a member of Mississippi Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Lee graduated Sook-Myung Women's University for her Bachelor of Arts in violin performance and Master of Music in violin performance in Austin Peay State University.
Erika Milner: voice, violin, viola, and piano
Erika Milner graduated with a Master of Music (with Honors) in Vocal Performance from Austin Peay State University. While at Austin Peay, she served as the principal second violinist and violist in the symphony orchestra. In addition, she was involved in Chamber Singers and Opera Workshop. Erika did her undergraduate studies at Union University where she received a Bachelor of Music (summa cum laude) in Music Education with an emphasis in General/Choral music. She currently teaches private lessons in violin, voice and piano at Madison Street Music and Arts Academy. She has a passion for music education and hopes to teach full-time as a choir or orchestra teacher. Previously, she had the opportunity to lead as the singing instructor at Camp Granada, a music camp for children through Austin Peay. In addition to teaching, Erika plays violin on Sunday mornings at her church, First Baptist of Clarksville.
Esther Sooter: voice and cello
Esther Sooter is a graduate of Austin Peay State University with a Master's Degree in Vocal Performance. She has performed with various orchestral and choral ensembles at Austin Peay and has taught and performed extensively in the greater Clarksville area. Esther has also performed opera roles at the Harrower Summer Opera Workshop in Atlanta, Georgia.
Simone Parker: piano, viola, and violin
Simone Parker regularly performs with APSU music students and students in her independent studio Sparkling Keys and Strings. She was one of the founding members of the Piano Trio at APSU. The ensemble focused on repertoire written for violin, clarinet and piano (Simone Parker). In addition, Simone Parker is providing event music since 2008 and is actively performing in the community.
Mrs. Parker has earned a Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) in Piano Performance and a Master in Music (with honors) in Piano Performance and Piano Pedagogy at Austin Peay State University (APSU). She leads an active teaching schedule and joined the APSU department of music faculty as an adjunct instructor in 2012 and teaches piano, violin and viola at her independent studio, Sparkling Keys and Strings. Since spring 2015, she offers group and private sessions in the Alexander Technique.