Kelly A. Parkes receives 2010 XCaliber Award
Kelly A. Parkes, assistant professor of teaching and learning in the School of Education in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech, received the university's 2010 XCaliber Award for excellence as an individual involved in teaching with technology.
Established in 1996 by Office of the Provost, the XCaliber Award (shorthand for exceptional, high caliber work) is presented annually by the Virginia Tech Center for Innovation in Learning to recognize individual faculty members or teams of faculty and staff who integrate technology in teaching and learning. The award celebrates innovative, student-centered approaches to learning activities. Awardees receive a cash award and are called upon to demonstrate their work.
Parkes, who joined the Virginia Tech faculty in 2006, teaches graduate level music education classes and supervises interns. She is developing the music education graduate studies program and is currently the program area leader for music within the Department of Teaching and Learning. Her group of graduating students has grown steadily over the past four years. Examples of their work can be seen online.
Her current areas of research are in music teacher education and applied studio teaching. She is an active member of Music Educators National Conference, The International Society for Music Education, and The Society for Music Teacher Education. She has been published in Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, Journal of Music Teacher Education, Journal of Research in Music Performance, Journal of the College Music Society, and the Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education.
Formerly a visiting professor with Florida International University, Parkes has enjoyed teaching methods classes, techniques classes, working with inner city and urban schools, and advising Chapter 525 of the National Association for Music Education (MENC) Collegiate Program.
Prior to moving to the United States from her native Australia in 2000, Parkes lectured in pre-college and college trumpet for five years and worked with public and private instrumental music programs at elementary, middle, and high school levels. In addition to her teaching, she was also the principal trumpet of the Canberra Symphony Orchestra from 1996-2000. Since moving to the United States, she has appeared as a regular substitute with Miami's New World Symphony Orchestra under Michael Tilson-Thomas and recently with the faculty brass quintet with the Department of Music at Virginia Tech.
Parkes received her bachelor's degree in musicology and psychology from the Australian National University, a master's degree in trumpet performance and pedagogy from The Canberra Institute of the Arts in Australia, a master's degree in music education from Florida International University, and a Ph.D. from the University of Miami.
