Mark Edwards, guitarist

About the Artist

Guitarist Mark Edwards has been hailed by the Montgomery Advertiser as a player who “transfers to another zone, effortlessly strumming, plucking and picking a variety of classical masterpieces with clarity.” Susan Brall says, “If you want to hear the best, you will want to catch Mark Edwards performing…His talent is unbelievable.” Mark began his life dedication to the classical guitar after seeing guitarist Benjamin Verdery perform a concert in Boaz, Alabama. For further inspiration, he looked to the great masters of the guitar, such as Andres Segovia, Julian Bream, and David Russell.  Mark’s major teachers during this formative time were Dr. Andrew Zohn and Douglas Back.   Mark earned his undergraduate diploma Magna Cum Laude from Columbus State University’s Honors Program, his Master of Music in Guitar Performance and Guitar Pedagogy from the Peabody Institute of Music, and his Graduate Performance Diploma also from Peabody.  He is currently completing his Doctorate in music under the mentorship of Julian Gray. Mark has been performing concerts since the young age of 14 and competing since 13.  He has performed throughout the United States, Canada, Italy, Germany, Philippines, Thailand, and Russia. Recent engagements include Isaac Stern and Weill Auditoriums in Carnegie Hall and Trinity Church in New York City, ArtScape in Baltimore, The Toronto Guitar Symposium, The Columbia Festival of the Arts, the Baltimore Guitar Society, the Tidewater Guitar Society, the National Philharmonic, Prince Georges Philharmonic, the Peabody FretFestival, and the AfterNow Music Series at the Red Room, a venue featured in Rolling Stone. In 2009, Mark joined the Maryland State Arts Council Touring Artist Roster, a program that offers concert presenters funding to showcase Maryland artists. From 1998 to present, Mark has earned 34 top prizes in Thailand, Canada, and the United States. These prizes include the 2010 Asia International Guitar Competition, the 2009 Montreal International Guitar Competition, the 2008 National Guitar Workshop/National D’Addario Solo Competition, Le Concours International de Guitare de Lachine in Montreal, Canada, the 2007 Columbus State University Guitar Symposium, the Portland Guitar Festival XVI, the 2006 Appalachian GuitarFest Solo Guitar Competition, the 2011 East Carolina University Guitar Competition, the Rosario International Guitar Competition, and the Baltimore Music Clubs Competition. Mark has also been the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, and Peabody Institute of Music. Since the spring of 2000, Mark has been featured on 7 recordings. With the Baldwin Ensemble; El Cumbanchero, Cathedral Hill, and Fretworks, and then, three recordings featuring music of Baltimore composer Karen Amrhein:  …for Moonlight, Yule Like This, and Giving Voice (ASCAP). Most recently, Mark appeared on Mark Lackey’s album Fairytale, which is an album for new music ensemble – remixed by a DJ. When not performing, teaching, arranging, or writing, Mark is an avid tennis and soccer amateur, and enjoys spending time with friends and reading literature.