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The Canadian harpsichordist and organist, Mark Edwards, studied piano and organ at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan with Thomas Lymenstull and Thomas Bara. He continued his studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, where he earned his Bachelor of Music with highest distinction (2005-2009), where he also followed courses in organ improvisation and harpsichord with renowned historical keyboards specialist, William Porter and played continuo with Paul O'Dette and Christel Thielmann. 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 (2009-2011), where in 2011 he obtained Master of Music degree in organ and harpsichord. He attended master-classes with Ton Koopman, Pierre Hantaï, Skip Sempé, Kenneth Weiss, Harald Vogel and Jacques van Oortmerssen. In 2012 he continued his studies with Robert Hill at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, Germany (2011-2013). His former teachers include Robert Hill, William Porter, Hank Knox, and David Higgs. He is currently a PhD student at Leiden University (since 2013) and the Orpheus Instituut, Ghent, where his research examines the intersection of memory, improvisation, and the concept of the musical work. He is 1st prize winner in the 2012 Musica Antiqua Bruges International Harpsichord Competition. In addition, he has distinguished himself as a prize-winner in a number of important competitions, including 3rd Prize at the Jurow International Harpsichord Competition (2012), 2nd Prize at the Concours d’orgue de Québec (2011), and 2008 Rodland Organ Competition (2008). He is the recipient of academic grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
Mark Edwards is active as a self-employed harpsichordist and organist since September 2009. He is recognized for his captivating performances, bringing the listener “to new and unpredictable regions, using all of the resources of his instrument, [...] of his virtuosity, and of his imagination” (La Libre Belgique). True to the spirit of historically informed performance, yet influenced by his research on deconstructive practices in music, his interpretations challenge the usual boundaries between musical text and act. He has given solo recitals at a number of prominent festival and concert series, including the Utrecht Early Music Festival, Bozar (Brussels), the Montreal Baroque Festival, and Clavecin en concert (Montreal). He has had concerto performances with a number of award-winning ensembles, including Il Gardellino (Director: Marcel Ponseele, Belgium), Neobarock (Germany), and Ensemble Caprice (Director: Matthias Maute, Canada). He is also an active chamber musician, having performed with Il Pomo d'Oro, Les Boréades de Montréal, Pallade Musica, and Flûes Alors! He is also a founding member of Ensemble 1729.
"Passaggi" (ATMA 2013), his first CD with the Canadian recorder player Vincent Lauzer, was reviewed warmly and was nominated for an ADISQ award. A second CD of George Frideric Handel's recorder sonatas is currently in post-production. His performances have been broadcast by American Public Media's radio program Pipedreams, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, La Société Radio-Canada's program Soirées classiques, Klara (Belgium), and Radio 4 (Netherlands).
Mark Edwards has been employed as as Music Director and Organist at Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Rochester (September 2006-June 2009); and Teaching Assistant at Hochschule für Musik Freiburg (April 2012-April 2013). In July 2016, he joined the Historical Performance faculty at Oberlin Conservatory as Assistant Professor of Harpsichord. He currently lives in Oberlin, Ohio. |
