Finding His Own Rhythm: Carroll Graduate Pursues a Career in Music
For Carroll alumnus Parker Mathews, pursuing a career in music isn’t just a dream. It’s a future he’s determined to make happen.
A Sykesville, MD resident who grew up minutes from Carroll Community College, Parker was raised in a family deeply connected to education and music. His father works at Baltimore’s Peabody Institute, and his mother teaches elementary school in Howard County.
“My parents have always strongly backed me,” Parker said. “If I wanted to try something, they supported that.”
That support allowed him to pursue music from an early age. Parker has been playing guitar for more than a decade and now performs solo sets throughout the region, building his audience one show at a time. His performances typically feature acoustic guitar and vocals, blending classic rock covers of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Tom Petty, and Johnny Cash with his own original songs.
“You just keep doing it,” he said. “Keep giving out business cards to bars and other places. Keep putting yourself out there.”
Overcoming Challenges
But pursuing that dream hasn’t always been easy. Parker’s path has included significant medical challenges. Diagnosed with epilepsy as an infant, he underwent brain surgery before middle school. “I was super lucky,” he said. “Everything went great.”
After high school, Parker had considered attending a large music program or conservatory, but he knew it wasn’t the right fit. “I didn’t want my parents spending thousands of dollars a year with me then failing classes because all I wanted to do was play guitar,” he said.
He ultimately chose Carroll Community College because it would give him the flexibility to continue performing while earning a degree affordably close to home.
Then, shortly before beginning classes at Carroll in 2016, Parker was involved in a serious car accident that delayed the start of his college journey.
Despite these setbacks, Parker remained committed to building a career in music. “I always feel like I have a chip on my shoulder,” he said. “Like I have to prove myself a little more than other people do.”
Finding Confidence at Carroll
Everyone was just so nice [at Carroll]. Everyone is there to help.
“When I finally got to Carroll, I didn’t know what to do,” Parker remembered. “I was always so paranoid.” Then he found one of the people who would have the biggest impact on his success at the College: Senior Director of Disability Support Services Joe Tatela.
Tatela helped Parker navigate the transition to college by coordinating academic accommodations and resources. “Joe was the man,” Parker said. “He always looked out for me.”
Parker also took advantage of Carroll’s free tutoring and other Academic Center resources during his early semesters.
What stood out most to him during his time at Carroll was the supportive environment.
“Everyone was just so nice,” Parker said. “Everyone is there to help.” Looking back, Parker says that sense of encouragement gave him the confidence to keep moving toward his goals.
Music & Mentorship
Music became one of the defining parts of Parker’s Carroll experience.
Through the College’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Ensemble, he gained valuable experience and mentorship as he pursued a career in music. His music instructors and fellow musicians helped shape his confidence as a performer. Their shared passion for performing made Carroll feel less like a classroom to him and more like a place where he belonged.
“I liked it around there,” Parker said. “All my people were there.”
Among his influences at Carroll was music instructor John Knoll, known to many rock fans as John Christ, former guitarist of the heavy metal band Danzig. “He’s very humble,” Parker said. “And he’s a very good mentor.”
Parker credits Knoll with helping him strengthen his stage presence, teaching him how to better connect with an audience and to stay composed on stage, never letting a missed chord derail a performance.
“He definitely pushed me a little more,” Parker said. “He was like, ‘Give the people what they want.’”
Going After the Gig
Parker graduated from Carroll Community College in May 2025 with a customized Associate of Arts degree. While he may seek a Bachelor’s degree in the future, his current focus remains music.
His long-term goal is simple: “Do music full-time. That’s the gig.”
For now, Parker continues to write songs, perform local shows, and steadily build his career. He learned that success as a musician means treating it like a business. To this end, he has created a Spotify account showcasing his music, assembled a professional press kit, and regularly reaches out to venues throughout the region.
Parker knows pursuing a career in music takes patience, persistence, and a willingness to put himself out there. “It’s a slow burn right now, trying to get my name out there,” he said.
But he wouldn’t trade the journey for anything.
“I’d rather have tried doing what I really want to do than wonder if I could have done it.”