Curriculum Vitae
Dr. T. Matthew Edwards
Career Summary
From his formal debut as piano soloist with orchestra at the age of 11, through his years as a Professor, performer, and nationally recognized composer, Dr. Edwards has accumulated 42 years of performance experience, 37 years of piano teaching experience, 21 years of choral and orchestral conducting experience, and 25 years of college-level classroom teaching experience.
ACADEMIC BACKGROUND
Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance, Peabody Conservatory of Music, Baltimore, MD, 1999
Lecture Document: Music for the Sake of the Piano: the Life and Legacy of Leopold Godowsky
Oral Exam Topics: Carl Nielsen, Symphonies 1-3
J.S. Bach, Mass in b minor
L. Godowsky, Keyboard Arrangements, Transcriptions and Paraphrases
EXPERIENCE
Teaching Positions
Missouri Western State University, 2007- 2021
Courses Taught: Music History I, Music History II, Piano Proficiency I, Piano Literature, Perspectives in Music, Theory and Analysis III, Theory & Analysis IV, Form and Analysis, Applied Piano, Applied Composition, Musicianship III, Musicianship IV
Departmental Responsibilities: Director of Keyboard Studies; coordination and oversight of all piano instruction; preparation and delivery of classroom lectures and tests; private instruction in piano to music majors and non-majors; vocal coaching and accompanying for Opera Workshop; accompanist for instrumental and vocal recitals, both student and faculty
College Responsibilities: Member of the International Advisory Council; actively involved in state, national, and international recruiting; student advising;
Teaching Innovations: Incorporation of WebCT, Moodle, and Canvas into all classes; development and creation of the first Internet-only online course for the music department, MUS 101; development of MUS 100, an online theory review course; incorporation of online streaming audio resources, such as classical.com, and video sources such as youtube.com
Anne Arundel Community College, 1999 - 2007
Courses Taught: Music Theory I, Music Theory II, Music Theory IV, Composition, Music Fundamentals, Music History I & II, Class Piano, Music Appreciation, Private Piano, History of the Symphony, Keyboard Music History, AACC Concert Choir.
Departmental Responsibilities: Preparation and delivery of classroom lectures and tests; private instruction in piano and composition to music majors and non-majors; vocal coaching; accompanist for musicals and operas; conducting choral and sectional rehearsals; accompanist for student and faculty recitals; solo recitals; solo and duo performances on faculty recitals; judging for various scholarship auditions; judging for music juries.
College Responsibilities: Chair of the Part-time Faculty Affairs Committee, Member of the Technology Council, Member of the Technology Council’s sub-committee on Online Learning Resources, Member of a Sub-committee studying course effectiveness for Humanities 101: Introduction to the Fine Arts.
Teaching Innovations: Creation of the Theory Computer Lab to provide ear-training and notation software to all the theory classes. Creation of the AACC Composer’s Forum for composition students and faculty. Assistance with the Audio Recording and Midi Studio. Creation of the Braille Music Lab to assist sight-impaired students in Fundamentals, Theory I, and composition. Creation of Repertoire Classes for the piano department. Use of PowerPoint presentations and MP3-capable hardware to assist in classroom lecture presentation.
Howard Community College, 2000 – Present
Courses Taught: HCC Choir, Private Piano, Vocal Coaching.
Responsibilities: Private piano instruction for music majors and non-majors; selection and rehearsal of repertoire for the choir concert at the end of each semester; rehearsal of orchestra, as needed; private vocal coaching for voice majors.
Washington Bible College, 1998 – 2001
Courses Taught: Private Piano, Piano Literature, Music Appreciation, Music History I & II, Introduction to Theory, Renaissance Counterpoint.
Courses Developed: Piano Literature, Renaissance Counterpoint.
Responsibilities: Preparation and delivery of classroom lectures and tests; private instruction in piano for piano majors and non-majors; solo recitals; accompanist on faculty recitals.
Peabody Conservatory of Music, 1994-1995
Course Taught: Remedial Theory, Opera Department Coach and Rehearsal Pianist.
Responsibilities: Preparing incoming conservatory students for core theory coursework; accompanying rehearsals for the opera department productions; coaching individual singers; rehearsing the opera chorus, as needed; accompanist for other opera projects.
Other Relevant Employment
Private Piano Studio, 1984 – Present
Responsibilities: Piano instruction for pre-college and adult students; tutoring in music theory; instruction in composition and arranging; vocal coaching; billing and payment collection.
Harvester Baptist Church, 1996-2002
Responsibilities: Director of the music program; repertoire selection and rehearsal of the choir for weekly performances; coordination and direction of the annual Christmas and Easter programs; management of multiple budgets, totaling $7,000 annually.
Antioch Bible Baptist Church, 2012- present
Responsibilities: 1 year as co-director of the music program; 9 years as the choral director; coordinating and conducting the choral rehearsals and performances
Professional Engagements
Concerto Appearances
St. Joseph Symphony Orchestra
Rachmaninoff, Concerto no. 2 in c
Anne Arundel Community College Orchestra
Rachmaninoff, Concerto no. 2 in c
Beethoven, Concerto no. 2 in B-flat
Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue
Carolina Youth Symphony Orchestra
Haydn, Concerto in D
Rachmaninoff, Concerto no. 2 in c
Bob Jones University Symphony Orchestra
Rachmaninoff, Concerto no. 2 in c
South Carolina Philharmonic
Rachmaninoff, Concerto no. 2 in c
Greenville (SC) Symphony Orchestra
Prokofiev, Concerto no. 3 in C
Solo Recitals
Solo appearances in Seoul, Korea, and in North Carolina, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, Kentucky, Georgia, Mississippi, Texas, Arkansas, Utah, Michigan
Collaborative Recitals
Collaborative and chamber recitals at the Peabody Conservatory of Music, University of Maryland, Anne Arundel Community College, and other venues in South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, and Delaware.
Pianist for MWSU Faculty Piano Trio, with performances throughout the Kansas and Missouri areas
Lectures and Masterclasses
Bangkok, Thailand – Adjudicator and clinician, Bangkok Young Pianists Concerto Competition
Seoul and Incheon, South Korea – Masterclasses and auditions for high school students
Novi Sad, Serbia, 2012 – World Piano Conference, Lecture on technique
Seoul, South Korea, 2008 – Masterclasses and auditions for high school students
Busan, South Korea, 2008 – Masterclasses and auditions for high school students
World Piano Pedagogy Conference, 2007 – Mini-lectures at the Hal Leonard Publishers Conference Store
WorldPiano Pedagogy Conference, 2008 – Discussion of pedagogical works at Hal Leonard Publishers Showcase
World Piano Pedagogy Conference, 2004 – Discussion and performance of my Concerto for Young Pianists
Music Teachers National Association National Convention, 2003 – Discussion and performance of my Concerto for Young Pianists
Maryland State MTA Convention, Annapolis, Maryland – “A Little Schenker Never Hurt Anyone.”
Temple University – “Repertoire for the Intermediate Piano Student”
Newberry University, Newberry, SC – “New Thoughts on Piano Technique”
Western Maryland College – “Three Good Ways to Make Fun of Piano Lessons”
Howard Community College – “Dealing with the Struggling Theory Student”
Texas State MTA Convention, San Antonio, TX – “New Thoughts on Piano Technique”
Toccoa Falls College, Toccoa, GA – “New Thoughts on Piano Technique”
Conducting Highlights
Kansas City, MO, 2017 – Conductor and Music Director, Christian Youth Theater productions of Snoopy!!!, Elf, Jr., and The Music Man
St. Joseph, MO, 2017 – Conductor and Music Director, MWSU Opera performance of Le Nozze di Figaro, by W. A. Mozart
St. Joseph, MO, 2015 – Conductor and Music Director, MWSU Opera performance of Carmen, by Georges Bizet
Kansas City, MO, 2013 to present – Choir Director, Antioch Bible Baptist Church
Jefferson City, MO, 2012 – Guest Conductor, Jefferson City Symphony Orchestra
Baltimore, MD, 2007 – Conductor and Music Director, Opera AACC production of L’Elisir d’Amore
Baltimore, MD 2005-2007 – Conductor of Howard Community College Choir
Reviews
"...a considerable talent...honest musicianship and a solid technique..."
The State, Columbia, SC
"...strikingly sensitive music-making..."
The Greenville (SC) News
AWARDS & HONORS
Grand Prize, Stravinsky Awards International Piano Competition, Champaign, Illinois
National First Prize Winner, MTNA Collegiate Artist Competition
First Prize, Elgin Choral Union Composition Competition
First Prize, National Association of Christian Schools National Finals
COMPOSITIONS & EDITIONS
Nationally Released Published Works & Editions
Czerny – 100 Progressive Studies G. Schirmer New York, NY
Hanon: The Virtuoso Pianist Complete G. Schirmer New York, NY
Mozart – Selected Variations G. Schirmer New York, NY
Czerny – The School of Velocity for the Piano, Opus 299, Books 1 and 2
G. Schirmer New York, NY
Czerny – Thirty New Studies in Technics, Op. 849
G. Schirmer New York, NY
Prokofiev – Music for Children, Op. 65 G. Schirmer New York, NY
Satie – Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes G. Schirmer New York, NY
Czerny – Practical Method for Beginners, Op. 599
G. Schirmer New York, NY
Beethoven: Fur Elise and other Bagatelles G. Schirmer New York, NY
Concerto No. 2 in G Piano Duet Hal Leonard Publishers Milwaukee, WI
Beethoven: Selected Piano Works G. Schirmer New York, NY
Concerto for Young Pianists Piano Duet Hal Leonard Publishers Milwaukee, WI
“Wistful Song” Piano Solo Hal Leonard Publishers Milwaukee, WI
“Twilight on the Lake” Piano Solo Hal Leonard Publishers Milwaukee, WI
“You’re a Grand Old Flag” Piano Duo Hal Leonard Publishers Milwaukee, WI
“Café Waltz” Piano Solo Hal Leonard Publishers Milwaukee, WI
“He is not Here!” SATB SoundForth Publications Greenville, SC
“Rosa Mystica” Vocal Solo SoundForth Publications Greenville, SC
Commissioned Works
Scenes from Walden Concert Work for Choir, Orchestra and Tenor
“Concerto for Young Pianists” Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra
“Concerto No. 2 in G” Concerto for Piano and String Orchestra
“The Coming Kingdom” Easter Cantata for Choir and Piano
Performances
“Christ is Born” Elgin Choral Union, Chicago IL
Scenes from Walden Anne Arundel Community College
“Concerto No. 2 in G” Chinese American Music Society Orchestra
“Concerto for Young Pianists” Winners Concert, Peabody Conservatory
“Three Psalms” Howard Community College Choir
RECORDINGS
Mozart – Selected Variations G. Schirmer New York, NY
Czerny – The School of Velocity for the Piano, Opus 299, Books 1 and 2
G. Schirmer New York, NY
Czerny – Thirty New Studies in Technics, Op. 849
G. Schirmer New York, NY
Satie – Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes G. Schirmer New York, NY
Czerny – Practical Method for Beginners, Op. 599
G. Schirmer New York, NY
Beethoven: Fur Elise and Other Bagatelles Hal Leonard Publishers
Audio CD included with the score
Beethoven: Selected Piano Works Hal Leonard Publishers
Audio CD included with the score
Concerto No. 2 in G Hal Leonard Publishers
Audio CD included with the score
Concerto for Young Pianists Hal Leonard Publishers
Audio CD included with the score
Anthems StillRun Recordings
Piano accompaniment for Vocal CD
--Includes two original compositions: “Fairest Lord Jesus” and “The Gospel Feast”
A Peabody Retrospective Forte Music Recordings
Piano Solo
COMPUTER / MUSIC TECHNOLOGY EXPERIENCE
Canvas LMS - Use for University-level course delivery, both online and live
Moodle LMS - Use for University-level course delivery, both online and live
WebCT LMS - Use for University-level course delivery, both online and live
Logic Pro Multi-track Recording Software –for recording and sound file editing.
Sibelius Music Notation Software –personal and classroom use
Finale Music Notation Software –use for composition, orchestral arranging, classroom test creation, etc.
Cakewalk Professional Multi-track Recording Software –for recording and editing files
SoundForge –recording and editing sound files
PowerPoint –presentations for church and classroom use
DVD Studio Pro –personal DVD creation
Adobe Premiere Pro Video Editing Software –personal and school use; creating and mixing video recordings of school concerts.
PRINCIPAL TEACHERS
1987-1993 Laurence Morton
1993-1998 Robert McDonald
Robert Weirich
OTHER STUDIES/MASTERCLASSES
Daniel Pollack Seymour Bernstein John Shirley-Quirk
Nelita True Andrjez Dutkiewicz Thomas Benjamin
Vladimir Feltsman Richard Cass Boris Slutsky
John Roberts Tedd Josselson Julian Martin
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Music Teachers National Association
St. Joseph Area Music Teachers Association
Kansas City Music Teachers Association
Missouri State Music Teachers’ Association
American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (A.S.C.A.P.)
OTHER RELEVANT ITEMS
Former Member of the Editorial Committee for American Music Teacher, a nationally-published music magazine of the Music Teachers National Association
Frequent Adjudicator and judge for St. Louis MTA, Nebraska MTA, Kansas MTA, Maryland MTA
Director of the Missouri Western State University Annual High School Piano Competition