Edward W. Hardy (born January 12, 1992) is an American composer, music
director, violinist and violist. He is known as the composer,
co-conceiver, music director, and violinist of the Off-Broadway show
The Woodsman.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. 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.
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 special masterclass by Lawrence Dutton of the Emerson
String Quartet.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.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
renowned violist Kim Kashkashian, international solo violinist 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.
director, violinist and violist. He is known as the composer,
co-conceiver, music director, and violinist of the Off-Broadway show
The Woodsman.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. 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.
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 special masterclass by Lawrence Dutton of the Emerson
String Quartet.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.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
renowned violist Kim Kashkashian, international solo violinist 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.
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