COLOGNE, Germany, April 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

The WDR Rundfunkchor Köln (WDR Radio Choir Cologne) has appointed a new Chief Conductor: as of the 2014/2015 season, Stefan Parkman will take over the direction of the choir.

"Stefan Parkman is one of the most sought-after choir conductors in Europe. We are delighted that we have been able to obtain his services. With his great musicianship and his wealth of experience he is the ideal man for the job. Furthermore, he was the favoured candidate among the choir's singers", said WDR Radio Director Wolfgang Schmitz. Parkman has been given a three-year contract to the end of the 2016/2017 season. Already as of the coming 2013/2014 season, as designated Chief Conductor he will realize his own projects with the WDR Rundfunkchor.

Stefan Parkman: "Honoured, proud, but filled with humility, I am glad to accept the offer to lead the eminent WDR Rundfunkchor into the future, with all its challenges and achievements. I truly look forward to making music together with my wonderful friends and colleagues in the choir and to working with the fantastic members of the administration."

Stefan Parkman was born in June, 22^nd, 1952 in Uppsala and completed his studies of singing and conducting at the Royal College of Music Stockholm. For many years he was the chief conductor of the Danish National Radio Choir and the Swedish Radio Choir and directed the Royal Philharmonic Choir Stockholm. In addition, he has conducted numerous Scandinavian symphony orchestras and directed various productions at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. Stefan Parkman holds the Eric Ericson professorship in choral conducting at the Uppsala University. Since 2010 he is Director Cantorum at the university.

Parkman's discography includes prize-winning CDs with the Rundfunkchor Berlin, the Swedish Radio Choir, numerous recordings with the Danish Radio Choir with works by Brahms, Gade, Grieg, Kodaly, Nielsen, Norgard, Schnittker and Richard Strauss. A further focal point of Stefan Parkman is contemporary choral music. For his outstanding work as a choir conductor, in 2012 he was awarded the Litteris et Artibus order by King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. In 1997 he was made a Knight of the Dannebrog by Queen Margarethe II of Denmark. Parkman is a member of Royal Swedish Music Academy.

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SOURCE Westdeutscher Rundfunk