Suzanne Mallory-Parker recently served as the Local Program Director for Turnaround Arts: Richmond, a partnership program of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Richmond Public Schools. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education and Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership both from Virginia Commonwealth University. During her tenure in the public schools of Virginia, she served as a choral/band director for 18 years and as Instructional Specialist for the Performing Arts for 15 years, retiring from Chesterfield County Public Schools in 2010 after 32 years of service.
Most recently, she has worked in the nonprofit sector for the Richmond Performing Arts Alliance (formerly CenterStage) as Associate Director of Education and the Richmond Symphony as Community Partnerships Manager. In addition, she has served as a guest clinician, adjudicator, and conductor for choral festivals, schools, and churches. She is an accomplished oboist and played with the Petersburg Symphony Orchestra for many years. In recent years, she was appointed to the Virginia Department of Education Advisory Committee for Career and Technical Education and serves as an advocate for arts education.
