Join pianist Emiko Edwards as she explores the concept of the homage—composers celebrating composers. Works will include those written by Manuel de Falla (Homenaje “Pour le Tombeau de Debussy”), J.S. Bach (Concerto in D minor after Alessandro Marcello, BWV 974), Clara Schumann (Variations on a Theme by Schumann, op. 20), Claude Debussy (Image Book 1: II. Hommage a Rameau), and Ferruccio Busoni (Chaconne in D minor BWV 1004).
Described as “dazzling” and “scintillating,” (Classical Source) and lauded for her “beautiful singing lines” and performances filled with “drama and energy” (Joan Tower), pianist Emiko Edwards continues to captivate audiences with her sincere musical interpretations and wide variety of tonal color.
She has won numerous awards at both the national and international level, taking prizes at the France Music Competition, New York International Piano Competition, Princeton Festival International Piano Competition, Julia Crane International Piano Competition, Cape Vincent International Piano Competition, and 18th International Young Artist Competition (Washington, D.C.), appearing throughout the world and in such prized concert venues as Weill Recital Hall (Carnegie Hall), Merkin Concert Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Milton Court Concert Hall (London), and Universidad de Laboral (Spain).
A champion of modern music and composers of our day, Edwards holds a number of BBC credits to her name. Her performances of works by Henryk Gorecki and Richard Rodney Bennett have received international acclaim and have all been recorded for and broadcast on BBC Radio 3. Additional highlights include the Philadelphia premier of the Joan Tower Piano Concerto (Homage to Beethoven), a duo recital for the Barbican Centre’s Sound Unbound Festival, and the American premier of an original composition by Karen Lefrak at the David H. Koch Theater in collaboration with members of the New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theater.
Equally at home with both modern and standard repertoire, concerto engagements include those with the Guildhall Brass Ensemble, Cambridge Graduate Orchestra, Bravura Philharmonic, Temple University Symphony, Manalapan Battleground, New Sussex Symphony, and Westfield Symphony Orchestras. Edwards is a graduate of The Juilliard School, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and Temple University, and currently teaches piano performance and chamber music at Saint Joseph’s University.
The Afternoon Recital Series is made possible, in part, through the support of the Ocean County College Foundation.
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is "ICE SS" by the Central Jersey punk act Sally Draper.
