Mike Parker is a harpist and musicologist who initially studied instrument building at the London College of Furniture, building and restoring 'early' and folk harps. He researches all aspects of the historical harp and modern folk music, resulting in a collection of 23 harps (with 2 more under construction) to enable him to use the most appropriate instrument and technique for each type of music. 

A specialist on the development technique and repertoire of the single action harp (1770-1825), in 2005 he published a sourcebook, 'Child of pure harmony' which has become recognized as a leading work on this subject.

Most recently, he gave workshops, a paper on the German partial-action, and a performance on an Egan single-action from 1828 (kindly loaned by Dr Emily Lawrance) at the Historical Harp Society Annual Workshop and Conference (June 2008), and a demonstration concert on a McEwen French harp, an Erat Empire and an Egan Grecian at the World Harp Congress in Amsterdam (July 2008)