معرفی
Mark Edwards is a Professor at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music specializing in Historical Performance and Harpsichord, where he has taught since 2016 offering private studio lessons and an extensive curriculum including Bach at the Clavier, Historical Improvisation, and Baroque Ensemble courses.
His educational background includes:
- BMus, highest distinction, Eastman School of Music
- MM, McGill University and the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg
- PhD, Leiden University (2021)
Professor Edwards is a renowned Canadian harpsichordist and organist whose research focuses on historical performance practices, particularly seventeenth-century French keyboard music, improvisation techniques, and continuo realization. He has performed at major international festivals including Utrecht Early Music Festival and Bozar in Brussels, and collaborated with prestigious ensembles such as Tafelmusik, Il Pomo d'Oro, and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.
His scholarly contributions include his 2021 PhD dissertation from Leiden University titled 'Moving Early Music: Improvisation and the Work-Concept in Seventeenth-Century French Keyboard Performance,' which advances understanding of historical performance authenticity.
Professional honors include:
- First-prize winner at the 2012 Musica Antiqua Bruges International Harpsichord Competition
- ADISQ award nomination for 'Passaggi' (2013)
As artistic director of Poiesis and collaborator with ensembles including Les Boréades de Montréal and Les Délices (Cleveland), Edwards maintains an active performance career alongside his teaching. His recordings, including the debut solo CD 'Orpheus Descending' (2017), have been broadcast internationally by American Public Media, CBC, Klara (Belgium), and Radio 4 (Netherlands).
Mentoring the next generation of historical performance specialists, Edwards continues to influence both academic and professional early music communities through his pedagogical approach grounded in authentic performance practice.
