As a part of Homecoming 2014: Off the Charts, Illinois Wesleyan University will recognize the Alumni Award winners Oct. 18 at a luncheon at the Shirk Center.

Sean Parsons ’01 will be presented with the Robert M. Montgomery Outstanding Young Alumnus Award!

Named for a 1968 alumnus and former alumni director, the Robert M. Montgomery Outstanding Young Alumnus Award honors young alumni for outstanding professional achievement and/or civic leadership. Parsons, who studied musical composition at Illinois Wesleyan and later earned master’s degree in jazz studies, is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger and educator. He received a Doctorate of Musical Arts from the University of Illinois.

As a jazz pianist, Parsons has performed at national and international music festivals and recently released his debut recording as a pianist and composer, Introduction. Now an assistant professor at Ohio University, Parsons previously served as a faculty member at Marshall University and as an adjunct professor of music at Illinois Wesleyan. He also served as jazz combo director for the 2011 South Dakota All-State Jazz Ensemble.

All honorees will be featured as “Back to College Classes” speakers during Homecoming weekend. Parsons will present “1959 in Jazz…It Was a Very Good Year” at 9:30 a.m. on Oct. 18. All classes will be held in Beckman Auditorium at The Ames Library.

Congratulations, Sean!