Biography
Edward W. Hardy is a renowned American composer, music director, and virtuoso violinist and violist, recognized as a leading figure in solo violin repertoire for theatrical productions. By age 25, Hardy was among the youngest composers accepted into the Exploring the Metropolis Con Edison Composer Residency and stood out as a prominent composer/violinist in New York City, according to BroadwayWorld. The New York Times praised his superb violin playing, noting his composition of the show's pervasive music. The Post and Courier highlighted his "vigor, control, and expressiveness," while Manhattan With A Twist described him as "mesmerizing." The Millbrook Independent characterized his performance style as "serene, dreamy, and soulful with velvety panache." As the composer, music director, and violinist for the acclaimed Off-Broadway production The Woodsman, Hardy's work earned the 2016 Obie Award, the 2014 Jim Henson Foundation Grant, and was broadcast on PBS stations four times. The show also streamed on BroadwayHD, and producer Jim McElwaine released Hardy’s album, The Woodsman Original Off-Broadway Solo Recording, which remains available and streamed internationally in countries including the United States, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Russia, Turkey, France, Hong Kong, Argentina, Ireland, and Germany. Hardy is a proud member of the Local 802 Musicians Union, Dramatists Guild of America, and ASCAP. He holds a Master of Music degree from the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College, CUNY, graduating cum laude, and a Bachelor of Music from SUNY Purchase, also cum laude. (Posted July 23, 2020)
