Huw Edwards Welsh conductor Country: Great Britain

Biography of Huw Edwards

Huw Edwards is a Welsh conductor and the musical director of the Washington Olympic Symphony Orchestra and the conductor of the University of Puget Sound Orchestra. His passion for music began at a young age when he was deeply impressed by a performance of Giuseppe Verdi's opera 'Un ballo in maschera' at Covent Garden. Edwards was particularly fascinated by the conductor, Claudio Abbado, who had complete control over the melodies played in the performance. This experience had a profound impact on Edwards and he knew from then on that he wanted to pursue a career as a conductor.

Born in South Wales and raised in England, Edwards showed an early interest in music and sang in a children's choir. However, it was the experience of witnessing Abbado's conducting at the age of 11 that truly changed his life. Just seven years later, Edwards found himself standing on the same podium, conducting the operetta 'H.M.S. Pinafore' by Gilbert and Sullivan. From that moment on, he focused solely on his career as a conductor, abandoning his previous pursuits as a musician.

Edwards began his conducting career at the age of 17 when he became the musical director of the Maidstone Opera Company in England, a position he held for six years. He also conducted the university orchestra at the University of Surrey, where he studied. In 1988, Edwards won a conducting competition, which led him to the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. This move to the United States was a cultural shock for Edwards, as it was vastly different from his familiar surroundings in England.

In 1995, Edwards started collaborating with the Portland Youth Philharmonic and became its conductor and musical director, succeeding Jacob Avshalomov. During his seven years with the orchestra, Edwards initiated various projects, including a program that provided music education to underprivileged students. As a result of his efforts, the orchestra received the second prize of the 'ASCAP' project for its contribution to contemporary music.

In 2002, Edwards became the musical director of the Seattle Youth Symphony Orchestra, where he worked with over 1000 young musicians. He expanded the orchestra's repertoire, incorporating works by British composers of the 20th century and American composers such as John Mackey. Edwards remained in this position until 2005.

In addition to his work with youth orchestras, Edwards served as the musical director of the Columbia Symphony Orchestra in Portland starting in 2000. He also underwent a year-long selection process to become the musical director of the Olympic Symphony Orchestra and officially took on the role in April 2012.

Despite his busy schedule, Edwards always found joy in teaching and mentoring young musicians. He particularly enjoyed conducting youth orchestras and performing the works of Beethoven. Although he had not initially planned to dedicate his entire career to working with young musicians, Edwards recognized the importance and impact of such work.

In his free time, Edwards is an avid sports enthusiast and enjoys activities such as rugby, running, squash, golf, and kayaking. He believes that both music and sports have a profound influence on society. Edwards has a deep appreciation for Richard Wagner's 'Parsifal' and has a love for the works of Bach and Beethoven. He also has a fondness for contemporary music, especially jazz rhythms.

Overall, Huw Edwards has had a successful career as a conductor, working with various orchestras around the world and leaving a lasting impact on the music community.