Marty Edwards, a 2009 graduate of Berea College, will present a solo guitar recital on Saturday evening, March 31 at 8 p.m. in Gray Auditorium in the Presser Music Building on Berea’s campus. The program will feature music from the Suite in E Minor by Baroque composer Sylvius Leopold Weiss, and Bardenklange by 19th century composer Johann Kaspar Mertz, and contemporary guitar music by Ted Oliver, Frederic Hand, John W. Duarte, David Crittenden, and Jorge Morel. Mr. Edward’s wife, soprano Rebekah Edwards, also a recent graduate of Berea College, will join the guitarist on John W. Duarte’s Quiet Songs (1971).
Guitarist, teacher and composer Marty Edwards holds a bachelor’s degree in music from Berea College (2009) and is presently working towards a master’s degree in guitar performance at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Marty is also a successful visual artist and has received numerous top awards for his work such as the Best in Show category from the North Carolina Federation of Women’s Clubs Statewide Arts Festival. Recently he had paintings featured in the annual Kentucky publication Carillon and on the cover of Joseph Pecoraro’s recent album Perennials. Mr. Edwards, under the guidance of luthier Dr. Gary Mahoney, who makes stringed instruments, has also participated in research projects covering the design, construction and acoustical properties of the guitar.
Audiences for more than a decade have enjoyed the artistic sensitivity of Marty Edwards’ performances. He has been a featured soloist on numerous concert series. Apart from his solo career, he has enjoyed the stage with other fine musicians ranging from singers and choirs to jazz, blues, rock, bluegrass and orchestral ensembles. A passionate teacher since 2002, Marty has been educating musicians of all ages and skill levels. While an undergraduate, he held the position of music theory teaching assistant under Professor Robert Lewis at Berea College and is currently serving as a graduate assistant under Joseph Pecoraro at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He is a registered guitar teacher with the Suzuki Association of America.
Presently, Marty is an instructor for the Young Guitarist section of the Piedmont Suzuki Studio. Additionally, he directs the guitar program at the West Forsyth YMCA where he holds weekly classes and teaches privately.