Dr. Edward W. Hardy at The American Theatre Wing Gala, Photo by Lia Chang

CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED
COMPOSER & VIOLINIST

"JUST A KID FROM HARLEM"

"EDWARD W. HARDY, WHO COMPOSED

THE OMNIPRESENT MUSIC,

PLAYS THE VIOLIN

SUPERBLY"

LISTEN TO HARDY'S ORIGINAL WORKS, ARRANGEMENTS & COLLABORATIONS

Evolution (for solo violin)
by Edward w. hardy
Colorado Public Radio | CPR classical Performance studio

Nevermore (for solo violin)
by Edward w. hardy
Colorado Public Radio | CPR classical Performance studio

Strange Fruit (for string quartet)
BY BILLIE HOLIDAY & Abel Meeropol, arranged by Edward w. hardy
The General Theological Seminary | NYC

daniel constant, violiN
Tia Allen, viola
thapelo masita, cello

Elle est là dans mes rêves (For violin & Piano) by Edward W. Hardy & John Lander
palais garnier - Opéra de Paris | Paris, France

Zigeunerweisen (for violin & Orchestra)
by Pablo de Sarasate
LITTLETON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | Colorado

TENNESSEE Whiskey (violin cover)
by Chris Stapelton, arranged by Edward w. hardy
Bryant Park Picnic Performance | The Classical Theatre of harlem | NYC

Mister Magic (violin Cover)
by Grover Washington, Jr., arranged by Edward w. hardy
Marcus Garvey Park | The Classical Theatre of harlem | NYC

isn't she lovely (for violin & Piano)
by stevie Wonder, arranged by John Lander & Edward w. hardy
Opéra de Lyon | Lyon, France

Hip-Hop Mashup (songs by Sisqo, Juvenile, and Kendrick Lamar) Thong Song, Back That Azz Up, Not Like Us, arranged by Edward w. hardy
Marcus Garvey Park | The Classical Theatre of harlem | NYC

Somebody To Love (violin Cover)
by Queen, arranged by Edward w. hardy
Marcus Garvey Park | The Classical Theatre of harlem | NYC

Fiddler on the Roof (violin Cadenza)
by Jerry Block, Arranged by John Williams
Westport Country Playhouse | Connecticut

The Colors of my life (From "Barnum")
by Cy Coleman, Arranged by Drew Wutke
Cipriani 42nd Street | AMERICAN THEATRE WING | NYC

Feeling Good (violin Cover)
by Nina Simone, arranged by Edward w. hardy
Marcus Garvey Park | The Classical Theatre of harlem | NYC

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Performance Archive

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IN THE PRESS

Articles • Interviews • Reviews

VOGUE MAGAZINE

TAKE AN EXCLUSIVE LOOK AT PHOTOGRAPHER ANDRE D. WAGNER’S FESTIVE NIGHT OUT AT THE 2025 MET GALA

MAY 8, 2025

The 2025 Met Gala, thrown to celebrate the Costume Institute’s spring exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” drew inspiration from co-curator Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity, and on the night, stars from Rihanna and Bad Bunny to Lorde and Laura Harrier heeded the Tailored for You dress code with creative spins on suiting.

Violinist Edward W. Hardy at New York Fashion Week hiTechMODA showcase at the Edison Ballroom (2025)

PREMIERING NOW

PAAIE SHINES AT HITECHMODA’S NYFW SEASON 13 SHOWCASE

FEBRUARY 9, 2025

The event attracted a host of celebrities and fashion influencers. Notable attendees included acclaimed violinist and composer Dr. Edward W. Hardy, who delivered a mesmerizing live performance, adding a melodic backdrop to the visual spectacle. His presence no only elevated the show’s ambiance but also highlighted the symbiotic relationship between fashion and music.

WHOS ON THE MOVE

DR. EDWARD W. HARDY NAMED WINNER OF THE KNOT BEST OF WEDDINGS 2025

JANUARY 28, 2025

Dr. Hardy expressed his gratitude: “I am truly honored to have shared countless beautiful musical moments with wedding couples over the years. Being recognized with another wedding award from The Knot is incredibly meaningful. Thank you to The Knot and, most importantly, to my wonderful and supportive wedding clients for making me a two-time recipient of The Knot Best of Weddings award!”

BROADWAY WORLD

PHOTOS: SEE THE MUSIC OF SHO KUON AT CARNEGIE HALL'S WEILL RECITAL HALL (REVIEW)

MAY 9, 2024

While each piece held significant meaning within Kuon’s musical and personal journeys, highlights included a mesmerizing performance of “Coexistence” by Kuon on piano and Dr. Edward W. Hardy on violin, a thrilling rendition of “In Summer” featuring Kuon, Hardy, Keita Ogawa on percussion, and Greg Pattillo on flute, and the celebratory “Japanese festival (MATSURI)” that involved every performer on stage and in the audience.

TRUE NORTH (UNC)

ACCLAIMED ARTIST AND PERFORMER REPRESENTS SPIRIT OF THE TIMES IN RACE-RELATED DISSERTATION (INTERVIEW)

APRIL 18, 2024

"These days, there seems to be a real separation between performers and composers. Eddie is a well-rounded, remarkable musician who can do different musical styles, arrangements and composing," Fulks said. "I think getting the word out about his compositions is part of the motivation behind presenting it as research. In addition to completing his program in three years, I am not aware of any student who has done more performing than he has in these past few years. He's a stellar example of a young man who is embarking on a wonderful career," he said.

CPR CLASSICAL

HE FOLLOWED HIS PASSION FOR CLASSICAL MUSIC FROM HARLEM TO COLORADO (INTERVIEW)

FEBRUARY 2, 2022

Edward Hardy fell in love with the violin at age seven. He was with his parents at his elementary school in Spanish Harlem in New York City when he heard some young violinists in an after school program. “I tapped my mom on the shoulder and just said “I want to do that.”

FORBES

HOW CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED VIOLINIST EDWARD W. HARDY IS TRANSFORMING MOOD INTO MUSIC (INTERVIEW)

FEBRUARY 23, 2021

American composer and virtuoso violinist and violist Edward W. Hardy is one such performer seeking out creative ways to continue his craft... “I am blessed to have had a fulfilling musical career pre-pandemic, but now most of my career has evaporated,” says Hardy. “Recently I composed and performed music that reflects our current time, and one piece even ties most of the Black music genres together.”

HAUTE LIVING

Q&A WITH COMPOSER AND MUSICIAN, EDWARD W. HARDY (INTERVIEW)

JANUARY 20, 2020

A man of many talents within the music world, Edward W. Hardy is an award-winning 28-year-old composer, music director, virtuoso violinist and violist...

THE STRAD

'HE HANDED ME THE BLACK VIOLIN AND SAID, TRY THIS ONE – IT WAS LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT' (INTERVIEW)

DECEMBER 4, 2018

Violinist and composer Edward W. Hardy remembers his first encounter with a unique instrument he is now raising funds to purchase.

What Celebrities Say About Edward W. Hardy

"Strange Fruit arr. by Edward W. Hardy Repost from @edwardwhardy • This week I had the pleasure of creating music with my friends again. I haven’t been in the same room with other musicians for several months due to Covid-19 but boy was this a fulfilling experience that lifted my spirits.

@edwardwhardy Awh, I would have been down for that too! I just wanted more! Fantastic work!

Leslie Odom, Jr.
@leslieodomjr

"Y’all were perfection all evening. Such a pleasure"

20241204_Dr. Edward W. Hardy, Justus Ross, and Aaron Stokes at New York City Center, Alvin

"@edwardwhardy - u r talented and beautiful Edward"

Lori Tan Chinn

"Congrats, young Edward W. Hardy, virtuoso violinist, violist, composer. (Dang, you gotta see this video of him playing Vivaldi: goo.gl/HYXmnI) - A fantastic, beautiful production. You did a great job. Loved it!

Edward W. Hardy_Lori Tan Chinn_20160507_TheWoodsman

"Yessssssssss!"

Edward W. Hardy @edwardwhardy

#TheWoodsman Album is Now Released to the Public

Experience A Music Journey Unlike Any Other

www.edwardwhardy.com/TheWoodsmanAlbum

Andrew Lloyd Webber
@AndrewLloydWebber

Edward W. Hardy at the University of Northern Colorado (2022).jpg

A beautiful performance! 👏😍 - TeamALW
•••
"This is one of my favorite songs by @andrewlloydwebber, and I dream of performing it with a beautiful Christine Daaé (soprano) one of these days❤️"

Steven Pasquale
@StevenPasquale

@edwardwhardy @TheWoodsmanPlay Congratulations to you sir. Incredibly well done.

"Was here when this dropped! Awesome job bro! :)"

Edward W. Hardy_20180315_EdgarAllanPoe_MusicVideo

About

Praised for “composing the omnipresent music and playing the violin superbly” (The New York Times), composer–violinist Dr. Edward W. Hardy bridges classical, contemporary, and Black musical traditions. Known for his acclaimed score for the Obie Award–winning The Woodsman, he has performed at Carnegie Hall 32 times and appeared at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, the Met Gala, and New York Fashion Week. A DownBeat Award winner with two albums, eight singles, and a growing catalog of genre-spanning compositions, he continues shaping contemporary violin performance through storytelling and cultural reflection. www.edwardwhardy.com.

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CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED COMPOSER & VIOLINIST "JUST A KID FROM HARLEM"

LISTEN TO HARDY'S ORIGINAL WORKS, ARRANGEMENTS & COLLABORATIONS

Evolution (for solo violin) by Edward w. hardy ​Colorado Public Radio | CPR classical Performance studio

Nevermore (for solo violin) by Edward w. hardy Colorado Public Radio | CPR classical Performance studio

Strange Fruit (for string quartet) BY BILLIE HOLIDAY & Abel Meeropol, arranged by Edward w. hardy The General Theological Seminary | NYC

daniel constant, violiNTia Allen, violathapelo masita, cello

Elle est là dans mes rêves (For violin & Piano) by Edward W. Hardy & John Lander palais garnier - Opéra de Paris | Paris, France

Zigeunerweisen (for violin & Orchestra) by Pablo de Sarasate LITTLETON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH | Colorado

TENNESSEE Whiskey (violin cover) by Chris Stapelton, arranged by Edward w. hardy Bryant Park Picnic Performance | The Classical Theatre of harlem | NYC

Mister Magic (violin Cover) by Grover Washington, Jr., arranged by Edward w. hardy Marcus Garvey Park | The Classical Theatre of harlem | NYC

isn't she lovely (for violin & Piano) by stevie Wonder, arranged by John Lander & Edward w. hardy Opéra de Lyon | Lyon, France

Hip-Hop Mashup (songs by Sisqo, Juvenile, and Kendrick Lamar) Thong Song, Back That Azz Up, Not Like Us, arranged by Edward w. hardy Marcus Garvey Park | The Classical Theatre of harlem | NYC

Somebody To Love (violin Cover) by Queen, arranged by Edward w. hardy Marcus Garvey Park | The Classical Theatre of harlem | NYC

Fiddler on the Roof (violin Cadenza) by Jerry Block, Arranged by John Williams Westport Country Playhouse | Connecticut

The Colors of my life (From "Barnum") by Cy Coleman, Arranged by Drew Wutke Cipriani 42nd Street | AMERICAN THEATRE WING | NYC

Feeling Good (violin Cover) by Nina Simone, arranged by Edward w. hardy Marcus Garvey Park | The Classical Theatre of harlem | NYC