Edward W. Hardy

Edward W. Hardy (born January 12, 1992) is an American composer, music director, violinist and violist.[1][2][3] He is known as the composer, co-conceiver, music director, and violinist of the Off-Broadway show The Woodsman.[4][5][6]

Edward W. Hardy
Hardy performing at Joe's Pub for a 2019 Juneteenth Celebration concert in New York City.
Background information
Birth nameEdward Wellington Hardy, I
Born (1992-01-12) January 12, 1992
New York, NY, United States
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Composer
  • Musical Director
  • Instrumentalist
  • Producer
InstrumentsViolin, Viola
Years active2014–present
Websitewww.edwardwhardy.com

Life and career

Early life

Hardy began studying the violin at the Opus 118 Music School in Harlem, New York at the age of 7, studying under the instruction of Roberta Guaspari, Lynelle Smith, Yonah Zur, and Elizabeth Handman. During this time, Hardy had numerous performances around the New York City area at locations including Avery Fisher Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, FiddleFest at The Apollo Theater, and Carnegie Hall where he shared the stage with Joshua Bell, Regina Carter, John Blake, Mark O'Connor, and Itzhak Perlman. Three years later, Hardy became a student of the Juilliard Music Advancement Program for young musicians.[7] Later, he worked as a freelance concert artist for five years while studying both violin and viola at both Manhattan School of Music and the Bloomingdales School of Music.[8] During the summer months, Hardy attended The Elisabeth Morrow School of Music, Manhattan School of Music Summer Camp, Kinhaven Music School and Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival. In 2012, Hardy also performed in a masterclass by Lawrence Dutton of the Emerson String Quartet.[9]

Hardy then attended Talent Unlimited High School where he played both violin and viola in orchestra and jazz band. He switched between concertmaster and principal violist in the orchestra. In his third year, Hardy was selected to be an intern with the Exploring the Arts' Tony Bennett Apprenticeship Program where he studied under the direction of the Latin Jazz Fusion Sweet Plantain string quartet; Eddie Venegas, Romulo Benavides, Orlando Wells, and David Gotay. In his senior year of high school, Hardy received both the 2010 Patrick Gallagher Performing Arts Award in Instrumental Music Talent Unlimited High School and the Chancellor's Endorsed Diploma for the Arts: The New York City Department of Education - Advanced Designation Through the Arts: Music. In recognition of an advanced level of achievement and the completion of a five-unit sequence of major study in partial fulfillment of the New York State Regents Diploma. After graduation, Hardy returned to Talent Unlimited High School to give private lessons to the violinists and violists later to perform regularly with the quartet. Hardy has become a “stunt violinist and violist of the Sweet Plantain String Quartet. Hardy has performed with Sweet Plantain around the country.[10]

He was appointed Principal Violist of the Purchase Symphony Orchestra for three consecutive years. He was a student of Ira Weller of the Met Orchestra. In 2014, Hardy performed in two masterclasses; one led by violist Kim Kashkashian, Carmit Zori and cellist Julia Lichten of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra at the Performing Arts Center’s Recital Hall at Purchase College. Hardy earned his bachelor's degree in Viola Performance with honors from the SUNY Purchase College Conservatory of Music.

Hardy found his love for theatre during his first undergraduate year at Purchase College. Although he was in the music conservatory, Hardy spent most of my time performing in plays presented by the acting conservatory. He composed for and performed in several plays, always in costume and on stage. By the end of his undergraduate career, Hardy fell in love with theater and with the idea of composing for theater.[11][12]

Hardy often composed and performed for theatrical performances both on and off the Purchase College campus. He has performed in Three Sisters; Chekhov, Blues for an Alabama Sky; Cleage, Trojan Women; Euripides, Twelfth Night; Shakespeare, Mother Courage and Her Children; Brecht, Beautiful Dreamer; McElwaine/Foster, all under the instruction of his mentor; James (Jim) McElwaine.[13]

In 2015, Hardy was the recipient of the Beatrice Schacher-Myers Scholarship, 2014 and 2015 recipient of the Laurence Rosenfeld Scholarship, and the Chamber Music Live Scholarship from the Aaron Copland School of Music in 2015. He also performed in a masterclass with violinist Ida Kavafian at LeFrak Concert Hall in New York City. He was a student of Daniel Phillips of the Orion String Quartet[14] Hardy earned his Masters of Music degree in Violin Performance with honors from CUNY, Queens College – Aaron Copland School of Music.[15]

Hardy performed with Kygo in the 2016 inaugural edition of The Meadows Music & Arts Festival held at Citi Field in Queens, New York. In Kygo’s last song on stage, Hardy played viola in a string quartet arrangement of his hit song “Firestone (song)” featuring Conrad Sewell.[16]

In 2014, Hardy performed as a guest solo violinist at the Charleston Museum under the button of Maestro Marlon Daniel and performed in the first violin section of The Black Stars of Broadway Concert led by Norm Lewis and Chapman Roberts. Months later Hardy took the stage as concertmaster of the Trilogy Opera Company at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center’s Victoria Theater. From an invitation from Marlon Daniel, Hardy was invited to perform in Ensemble du Monde and made his first appearance with the chamber ensemble in 2015 at Merkin Hall. Later that year, Hardy performed with Roderick Cox as the assistant concertmaster at the Colour of Music Orchestra at Gaillard Center in Charleston. In 2016, Hardy was commissioned to compose and perform a solo violin piece for the Congressional Black Caucus at Howard Theatre which was a private event, sponsored by Google, apart of the opening of the National Museum of African American History and Culture. He composed and performed a piece called “Evolution” and also performed Antonio Vivaldi's Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, "L'estate" (Summer) with the Colour of Music Virtuosi led by Roderick Cox associate conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra. Hardy's solo violin piece "Evolution" made its televised debut on PBS, and on its affiliate stations American Music TV, in California and New York City.[17][18]

A Brooklyn Boy

A Brooklyn Boy is a spoken word performance that portrays Steven Prescod's coming-of-age story. Hardy participated as the co-composer and solo violinist through two years of workshops until its final location at the East Village Playhouse in New York City.[19] A Brooklyn Boy was workshopped in famous venues such as the National Black Theatre of Harlem, the Vineyard Theatre, at the Department of Education in Washington, D. C., The American Museum of Natural History, the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Marriott Marquis.[20]

The Woodsman

In Hardy's junior year of 2012–13 at Purchase College, he started and finished composing all the music for the first edition of The Woodsman within two months. As each rendition of play developed and molded into something new the music reflected its transformation.[21] Except for a brief introduction, The Woodsman does not have any words and is unlike any other play. During the first meeting with the playwright, both Hardy and Ortiz examined the synopsis of the play. This was Hardy's opportunity to think of this play like a silent film and tell a story through music.[22] He explored different genres of music to create everything from the sound of nature to the different instruments in an orchestra. The program music plays a significant role in the play.”[23]

Edgar Allan Poe's Inspired Works

Hardy composed “Three Pieces Inspired By Edgar Allan Poe”: Nevermore, Evil Eye[24][25] and A Fantasy were recorded by Grammy award winner John Kilgore, Jonathan Jetter and produced by Jim McElwaine. Nevermore was premiered at Hardy's first one-man sold-out show “Six Violins: A Musical Evening with Edward W. Hardy” at the Cutting Room [26] in NYC which also featured Hardy playing three his violins on WNYW - Fox 5 news.

Work

Theater
Year Title Role Details Notes
2012 The Woodsman Munchkin/solo violinist Standard ToyKraft, January 2012 Also composer, music director, and co-conceiver
2013 Standard ToyKraft, January 18 - January 19, 2013
2013 Standard ToyKraft, June 13 – June 16, 2013
2013 Ars Nova (Off-Broadway), June 18, 2013
2014 59E59 Theaters (Off-Broadway), January 30 - February 16, 2014
2015 59E59 Theaters (Off-Broadway), January 13 - February 22, 2015
2015 A Brooklyn Boy Hooded solo violinist National Black Theatre, April 30, 2015 & May 13, & 14, 2015 Also co-composer
2015 Vineyard Theatre, June 28, 2015
2016 The Woodsman N/A Off-Broadway revival, New World Stages, January 27 – May 29, 2016 Composer and co-conceiver
2016 A Brooklyn Boy Hooded solo violinist CAP21 Black Box Theatre, March 3, 2016 Co-composer
2016 The Pearl Diver Onstage solo violinist Hudson Guild Theater Off-off-Broadway, August 29 - September 3, 2016 Composer and music director
2016 A Brooklyn Boy Hooded solo violinist Youth Power: Activism Event, November 4, 2016 co-composer
2017 United States Department of Education, January 11, 2017
2017 American Museum of Natural History, February 10, 2017
2017 America's Promise NYC Event with President Bill Clinton, April 18, 2017
2017 Fox Theatre (Atlanta), May 12, 2017
2017 Ripley Grier Studios, August 14, 2017
2017 Lake of Sorrows Onstage solo violinist Hudson Guild Theater Off-off-Broadway, August 22 - 26, 2017 Composer and music director
2017 A Brooklyn Boy Hooded solo violinist East Village Playhouse, December 8, 2017 Co-composer

Film
Year Title Role Notes
2016 The Woodsman N/A Composer, co-conceiver, music editor, soundtrack
2018 Nevermore Himself executive producer, writer, composer, violinist
2018 The Lie N/A Musician
2020 Shirley N/A Musician: 2nd violin
2020 Strange Fruit Himself executive producer, writer, composer, 1st violin
2020 Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048 Himself executive producer, music & film editor

Television
Year Title Role Notes
2016 The Woodsman N/A PBS Theater Close-Up, composer, co-conceiver, music editor, soundtrack

Discography

Soundtracks and Original Cast Recordings
List of soundtracks/OCRs
Title Album details Notes
The Woodsman (Original Off-Broadway Solo Recording)
  • Composer/Violinist

Singles
List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Album
Nevermore 2018 Three Pieces Inspired By Edgar Allan Poe
Evil Eye
A Fantasy
The Lovers Dance (From "the Pearl Diver: A Japanese Legend") 2018 Non-album singles
The Pearl Diver: A Japanese Legend (Ship At Sea)
Rusting Tin Man (Remake) [From “the Woodsman”]") 2018
Evolution [27] 2019
Strange Fruit [28] 2020

References
  1. The Strad, "'He handed me the Black Violin and said, try this one – it was love at first sight'", The Strad, December 05, 2018.
  2. David Johnston, "Announcing Our 2017-18 Con Edison Composers in Residence", Exploring The Metropolis, Inc., June 19, 2017.
  3. Clement, Olivia (October 25, 2016). "How The Composer of The Woodsman Found His Passion". Playbill.
  4. Laura Hughes, "Led by a Tender Heart, Before It Is Ripped Out", The New York Times, January 20, 2015.
  5. Christopher Tuccillo, "The Woodsman Mesmerizes Its Audience", Manhattan With A Twist, February 12, 2014.
  6. Fern Siegel, "Stage Door: Da, The Woodsman", The Huffington Post, January 23, 2015.
  7. Mastrandrea, Paige (January 20, 2020). "Q&A With Composer And Musician, Edward W. Hardy". Haute Living. Retrieved January 2, 2021.
  8. Zick, William (December 15, 2018). "Composer & Violinist Edward W. Hardy is Crowdfunding to buy a Unique Violin". Africlassical.
  9. "Lawrence Dutton Master Class Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival". Program. July 9, 2012.
  10. Joanne Rile, "Bridging The Gap Between Generations And Musical Genres.", Joanne Rile Artists Management, March 01, 2015.
  11. Foister, Breanna (April 23, 2016). "To Stir the Soul with Music: Edward W. Hardy on Composing for Theater". New York Theatre Review.
  12. News, Purchase College (January 10, 2017). "Theater in the Now Features Music Alumnus Edward W. Hardy". Conservatory of Music.
  13. Bowling, Suzanna (August 23, 2017). "Meet The Playwrights of SummerFest: Edward W. Hardy Violinist, Violist & Composer". Times Square Chronicles.
  14. Adam Parker, "Colour of Music Festival Virtuosi play every season, twice", Post and Courier, October 22, 2014.
  15. Lantz, Kelly (June 18, 2020). "Nineteen Black Composers You Should Know". AllClassical Portland.
  16. Edward Hardy, "#tbt When I performed with Kygo back in October...", Instagram, February 2, 2017.
  17. News: Edward Hardy, "The Colour of Music Virtuosi 2016 Concert at Howard Theatre", Colour of Music Festival, September 01, 2016.
  18. Magazine, Allegro (February 4, 2020). "'Why we joined the union' - Edward W. Hardy". Volume 120, No. 2.
  19. J. Countess, "Keith Haring Artwork Press Conference", Getty Images, June 24, 2015.
  20. Hardy, Edward (February 25, 2018). "A Brooklyn Boy". edwardwhardy.com.
  21. SUNY Purchase College, "Purchase Magazine Spring 2014", SUNY Purchase College Magazine, July 16, 2014.
  22. Rickwald, Bethany (January 31, 2016). "The Woodsman Uses Folk Music and Puppetry to Tell the Tin Man's Enchanting Tale". Theatermania.
  23. Block, Michael (April 7, 2016). "Spotlight On...Edward W. Hardy". Theater in the Now.
  24. New: Pop Rock, "From The Woodsman To New Music Inspired By Edgar Allan Poe's The Tell-Tale Heart", Top 40 Charts, February 09, 2018.
  25. BBW News, "Composer of The Woodsman Edward W. Hardy Performs Works Inspired By Edgar Allan Poe & L. Frank Baum", BroadwayWorld, April 02, 2018.
  26. BWW, News Desk (November 6, 2017). "Edward W. Hardy to Bring SIX VIOLINS to The Cutting Room This Saturday". BroadwayWorld.
  27. News Desk, BWW (August 17, 2019). "Acclaimed Violinist, Edward W. Hardy, Releases New Single Inspired By The Evolution Of Black Music". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  28. News Desk, BWW (June 24, 2020). "Video: Listen To Edward W. Hardy's Haunting String Quartet Arrangement Of "Strange Fruit"". BroadwayWorld. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
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