{"id":4663,"date":"2025-08-20T19:42:10","date_gmt":"2025-08-20T19:42:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4663"},"modified":"2025-08-25T14:23:26","modified_gmt":"2025-08-25T14:23:26","slug":"alumnus-ken-park-donates-world-percussion-collection-to-siu-school-of-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4663","title":{"rendered":"Alumnus Ken Park donates world percussion collection to SIU School of Music"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_4664\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4664\" style=\"width: 1800px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4664\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0416.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1800\" height=\"1350\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0416.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0416-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0416-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0416-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_0416-1536x1152.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1800px) 100vw, 1800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4664\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ken Park, an SIU School of Music alumnus and accomplished percussionist, stands with part of the $100,000 collection of percussion instruments and accessory items he donated to his alma mater. The gift will provide SIU students with hands-on access to world-class instruments and global sounds.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>By Britni Bateman<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"YouTube video player\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2ObeZ6VD4EU?si=2sh6MS6gyG-tQbqe\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Kenneth \u201cKen\u201d Park, a 1971 graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale\u2019s School of Music, has donated $100,000 worth of percussion instruments and accessory items to the SIU School of Music, giving students hands-on access to global sounds and professional-grade gear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve known for years that I wanted my instruments to come home to SIU,\u201d said Park, 80, who lives in Westchester, California. \u201cThese drums and mallet instruments were my therapy and my friends. I hope students will hear the human side of music in them and create their own sound.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Gift of Global Sound<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Park\u2019s gift includes an array of instruments that reflect a lifetime of studio and touring work, from timpani and vibraphone to Latin and world percussion. He said the collection will help students explore color, texture, and rhythm across cultures in real time, rather than only through samples.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can have a laptop and use samples,\u201d Park said. \u201cBut in the room, with people, you hear the real instrument. You learn how to tune it, how it feels, and how it sits in the music. That\u2019s how creativity opens up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-4667\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ken-park-records.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"1065\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ken-park-records.png 800w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ken-park-records-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ken-park-records-769x1024.png 769w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/ken-park-records-768x1022.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>From Small Town to the World Stage<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Raised in Murphysboro, Illinois, Park began playing professionally in grade school after a local teacher who led the area musicians\u2019 union spotted his talent. He performed with SIU faculty and in southern Illinois clubs before serving in the Fifth U.S. Army Band at Fort Sheridan, where he led the percussion section. After SIU, he built a wide-ranging career in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New York, and on international stages.<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Career of Notable Collaborations<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4668\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4668\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4668\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_2324.png\" alt=\"Ken Park is pictured with Banny Manilow\" width=\"300\" height=\"362\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_2324.png 300w, https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/IMG_2324-249x300.png 249w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4668\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ken Park smiles in a photo with Barry Manilow.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Park\u2019s professional r\u00e9sum\u00e9 spans some of the biggest names in music. He has recorded for Capitol Records, Casablanca Records, Arista Records, and Geffen Records, working with Donna Summer, Barry Manilow, Tammy Wynette, Peggy Lee, Dionne Warwick, and Doc Severinsen of \u201cThe Tonight Show.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>On stage, he has shared concert and tour bills with Ella Fitzgerald, Whitney Houston, Donna Summer, Barry Manilow, and Kitaro, performing on multiple world tours. His versatility has taken him from Broadway, where he played in <em>Tintypes<\/em>, to diverse ensembles such as the new-age group Istar, the Crystal Palace Ragtime Band, and Magic\u2019s John Blues Band.<\/p>\n<p>His television credits include performing cues for the series <em>Tenspeed and Brown Shoe<\/em> and <em>Major Dad.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy break in Hollywood came with Donna Summer,\u201d Park said. \u201cI auditioned, played the parts exactly as written, and she said, \u2018You\u2019re hired.\u2019 Later I toured with Barry Manilow and recorded for artists like Dionne Warwick and Neil Diamond. I learned to bring the right sound for the song and to be fast and prepared.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>SIU\u2019s Lasting Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Park credits SIU faculty for giving him space to practice, perform, and grow.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is where I learned the musical part of music,\u201d he said. \u201cProfessors encouraged me, let me play in percussion ensemble, and helped me study classical music. I\u2019m forever grateful they put up with my madness and gave me a shot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Inspiring the Next Generation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The decision to part with his instruments, Park said, was emotional but clear.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen I came back to campus for a visit and talked about donating my collection to the School of Music, Dr. Chris Butler looked me in the eye and said, \u2018I\u2019ll take care of your babies.\u2019 That sealed it, and I knew this was the right place,\u201d he said. \u201cOnce I returned home, I walked around the block, had a good cry, and started packing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Park hopes the instruments inspire students to chase curiosity and discipline in equal measure.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPractice slowly and value your time here,\u201d he said. \u201cPlay in every ensemble you can. Learn the piano so your ear develops. Tune your instruments and listen to music from everywhere. If you do that for four years, you\u2019ll have a real shot.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He also wants students to remember that percussion is more than timekeeping.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood drummers and percussionists are musicians first,\u201d Park said. \u201cLearn the notes, learn the harmony, and learn how your part colors the whole track. That\u2019s what gets you called back.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>A Legacy of Music<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Even as he winds down his performance schedule, Park remains energized by music. He has performed with the Beach Cities Symphony in Southern California for more than four decades and plans to keep a small setup to play at home.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ve gone my whole life at full speed,\u201d he said. \u201cNow I\u2019m trying to slow down, listen, and enjoy it. I\u2019m grateful to God, to my parents who let me play in the bars as a kid, and to SIU for giving me a place to learn.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Park said sending the collection to his alma mater feels personal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI didn\u2019t have children,\u201d he said. \u201cThese instruments are my kids, and I\u2019m sending them to college. I want SIU students to bang on them, explore, record, flip the sounds, and build something new. That\u2019s the joy of percussion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Expanding Opportunities at SIU<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The School of Music will catalog and integrate the instruments into ensembles, lessons, and recording projects throughout the year. Park believes the impact will be immediate.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStudents will get to play the world,\u201d he said. \u201cSouth American, African, Asian, classical, jazz \u2014 it\u2019s all there. When you put it in context with real, hands-on instruments, it changes how you hear everything.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>SIU holds a rare distinction as one of only 21 universities nationwide \u2014 out of nearly 4,000 \u2014 recognized by the Carnegie Classification for both Research 1 status, the highest level of research activity, and as an Opportunity College and University, which honors institutions that expand access and foster social mobility. This dual recognition reflects SIU\u2019s commitment to advancing knowledge while opening doors for students from all backgrounds. Park\u2019s gift to the School of Music embodies that mission, enriching hands-on learning and inspiring future musicians to create, innovate, and share their art with the world.<\/p>\n<p>This contribution also supports Imagine SIU 2030, the university\u2019s comprehensive fundraising campaign. To date, the campaign has raised more than $422 million toward its $500 million goal, making it the fifth largest fundraising effort in Illinois higher education. In the most recent fiscal year, the SIU Foundation awarded more than $5.6 million in scholarships to 2,111 students, representing 17 percent of the student body.<\/p>\n<p>Gifts like Park\u2019s ensure that SIU continues to grow as a place where research, opportunity, and access come together to change lives for generations to come.<\/p>\n<p>To support the SIU School of Music, learn more at: <a href=\"https:\/\/music.siu.edu\/alumni\/give.php\">https:\/\/music.siu.edu\/alumni\/give.php<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Britni Bateman Kenneth \u201cKen\u201d Park, a 1971 graduate of Southern Illinois University Carbondale\u2019s School of Music, has donated $100,000 worth of percussion instruments and accessory items to the SIU School of Music, giving students hands-on access to global sounds and professional-grade gear. \u201cI\u2019ve known for years that I wanted my instruments to come home &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/?p=4663\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Alumnus Ken Park donates world percussion collection to SIU School of Music<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,3,4,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-donor-stories","category-higher-education","category-illinois-higher-education","category-siu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4663","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/13"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4663"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4663\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4672,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4663\/revisions\/4672"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4663"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4663"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.siuf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4663"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}