Raymond R. Park Music Scholarship

The Raymond R. Park Music Scholarship is available through the UCM Alumni Foundation for an undergraduate student in good academic standing who is pursuing a degree in Music or Music Education. This scholarship is made possible by way of a generous gift from the Estate of Raymond R. Park.

Raymond Park graduated from Victor High School and Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa, before embarking on a career in education. Initially, he taught instrumental music in Clarence, Iowa, until serving in the army, where he worked as a Military Police officer, primarily engaged in clerical duties. Following his military service, Raymond continued his higher education at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. There, he earned both a Master’s Degree in Music History and Literature and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Musicology, receiving a nomination to Phi Kappa Phi honor society.

Raymond’s career path led him to the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Missouri where he began and concluded his college teaching career spanning from 1964 to 1996. At UCM, he taught various courses, including Piano, Introduction to Graduate Study, and American Music. Additionally, Raymond served as the secretary of Pi Kappa Lambda and contributed to cataloging the Essig Collection, showcasing his dedication to academia and music preservation.

Raymond Park’s life was marked by a dedication to music and academia. Alongside his accomplished career and academic pursuits, he maintained an extensive music bibliography, demonstrating his ongoing passion for music. His love for playing the piano and cultivating orchids and other plants remained constant throughout his life, enriching his days until his passing on November 25, 2018. Raymond Park allocated a portion of his estate to the University of Central Missouri to support students who have developed or manifested an interest in music.