Mark Edwards (harpsichordist)

Mark Edwards (born 1986 in Toronto) is a Canadian harpsichordist and organist from Toronto, Ontario. He is first-prize winner of the 2012 Musica Antiqua Bruges International Harpsichord Competition and is Assistant Professor of Harpsichord at Oberlin Conservatory of Music.{[1]

Mark Edwards
Mark Edwards, Kulas Hall, Oberlin Conservatory, Baroque Performance Institute, June 28, 2017
Background information
Born1986
Toronto
OriginCanada
GenresClassical music
Occupation(s)Professional musician, Assistant professor of harpsichord
Websitewww.mark-edwards.ca

Biography

Mark Edwards studied piano and organ at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan with Thomas Lymenstull and Thomas Bara. He continued his organ studies with David Higgs at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he also followed courses in organ improvisation and harpsichord with renowned historical keyboards specialist, William Porter. He was organist at the Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Rochester and played continuo at the Eastman School with Paul O'Dette and Christel Thielmann. He graduated as a Bachelor of Music with highest distinction.[2] He completed his further studies with William Porter (organ and improvisation) and Hank Knox (harpsichord) at the Schulich School of Music and the Department of Early Music at McGill University, where in 2011 he obtained Master in organ and harpsichord. He attended master classes with Ton Koopman, Pierre Hantaï, Skip Sempé, Kenneth Weiss, Harald Vogel and Jacques Oortmerssen. In 2012 he continued his studies with Robert Hill at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, Germany.

His harpsichord playing has been described in La Libre Belgique as "bringing the listener to new and unpredictable regions, using all of the resources of his instrument, of his virtuosity, and of his imagination [...]."[3]

In addition to his prize at the Bruges competition, Mark won third prize at the 2012 Jurow International Harpsichord Competition,[4] and second prize in the 2011 Concours d'Orgue de Québec.[5] He is also a founding member of Ensemble 1729.[6] He has appeared on American Public Media's radio program Pipedreams,[7] as well as on La Société Radio-Canada's program Soirées classiques.[8]

Discography

Solo Album
  • "Orpheus Descending" (2017), Early-Music.com

Collaborations
  • "Passaggi" (2013), Atma Classique, with Vincent Lauzer
  • "Lorenzani: Nicandro e Fileno" (2018), Atma Classique, with Les Boréades de Montréal
  • "Devienne Flute Sonatas" (2019), Centaur, with Joanna Marsden

References
  1. "Oberlin Conservatory-Historical Performance Faculty". Oberlin.edu. 2016-10-21. Retrieved 2019-05-29.
  2. "Organix 09 – Biography: Mark Edwards". Organixconcerts.ca. 2011-11-27. Retrieved 2012-09-03.
  3. Mergeay, M. "Révolution au concours de Bruges," La Libre Belgique, 11 August 2012: "Sweelinck démarre dans cette sorte d’errance chère à certains, faite de ruptures et de suspensions apparemment arbitraires mais bientôt justifiées : Mark Edwards entraîne l’écoute dans des régions inédites et fantasques, utilisant toutes les ressources de son instrument (lequel connut pourtant des problèmes de justesse), de sa virtuosité et de son imagination, avec la marque - dans l’ampleur du jeu - de l’organiste qu’il est aussi. Bach sera plus édifiant encore, bénéficiant d’un excellent choix d’instrument et mené avec une autorité souveraine. Ovation."
  4. "Historical Keyboard Society 2012 Joint Meeting & Festival". Historicalkeyboardsociety.org. Retrieved 2012-09-03.
  5. "Concours d'orgue de Québec 2010". Coq-fondationclaudelavoie.com. 2010-09-15. Retrieved 2012-09-03.
  6. Ensemble 1729 Archived 2012-01-20 at the Wayback Machine.
  7. Pipedreams, "Oh, Canada!", aired on 25 June 2012.
  8. Consult listings for 21 June 2011.
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