Edward W. Hardy ’14

Edward W. Hardy  ’14 is a critically acclaimed Black and Puerto Rican composer, music director, virtuoso violinist, and violist and is one of the foremost exponents of solo violin repertoire for theatrical productions.

As the composer, music director, and violinist of the smash hit Off-Broadway show The Woodsman, Hardy’s show was a recipient of the 2016 Obie Award, the 2014 Jim Henson Foundation Grant and was broadcast on PBS stations four separate times, streamed on BroadwayHD, and major music producer Jim McElwaine (Professor Emeritus of Music) produced Hardy’s album The Woodsman Original Off-Broadway Solo Recording, which continues to be sold and streamed in countries such as the United States, Mexico, United Kingdom, Russia, Turkey, France, Hong Kong, Argentina, Ireland, and Germany.

At age 25, “Hardy (was) one of the youngest composers to ever be accepted into the Exploring the Metropolis Con Edison Composer Residency and one of the most prominent composer/ violinists in New York City.” —BroadwayWorld

Hardy has received numerous awards, most recently winning 1st Prize in the 2022 University of Northern Colorado Concerto Competition and 2nd Prize in the 2022 Angie Southard Performance Competition.

Hardy also has an extensive performance history ranging from solo violin performances for the Congressional Black Caucus/ opening of the African-American Smithsonian Museum, Hublot, MAC Cosmetics, Haute Living, special performances for rap legends 50 Cent, Nas, Justin Bieber, Hailey Bieber, Usher, Russell Westbrook, Kehlani, and legendary hockey player Alexander Ovechkin, to sharing the stage with other famous artists such as Itzhak Perlman, Maxim Vengerov, D-Nice, Salt-N-Pepa, Bunb B, Baby Cham, Scarface, 702, Mike Phillips, Lloyd, Israel Houghton, Kenny Burns, Kygo, André De Shields, Brandie Sutton, Regina Carter, Bryan Carter, Norm Lewis, Joshua Bell, John Blake Jr., Mark O’Connor, Radmila Lolly, Graham Reynolds, the Oxford Philharmonic Orchestra, Jeffrey Zeigler, Sandbox Percussion, the Attacca Quartet, and Tamar-kali.

Performance venues include Carnegie Hall, The John F. Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Avery Fisher Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Sheldon Concert Hall, WQXR, The Greene Space, The Apollo Theater, Wheeler Opera House, Metropolitan Museum of Art, American Museum of Natural History, Charleston Museum, The Cutting Room, The Public Theater’s Joe’s Pub, Amanyara, and many others.

Education

Hardy is currently pursuing a Doctor of Arts in Violin Performance, Chamber Music at University of Northern Colorado (expected completion 2024).

He earned an MM in Violin Performance at the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College in 2015.

Accolades

“Edward W. Hardy, who composed the omnipresent music, plays the violin superbly.” —The New York Times

He has “Vigor, Control And Expressiveness.” —The Post and Courier

Hardy is “Mesmerizing.” —Manhattan With A Twist

Performs in a style that is “serene, dreamy, and soulful with velvety panache.” —The Millbrook Independent