Bio

B.Mus., B.Ed., M.Mus. (Western), D.M.A. (Michigan)

Professor Darryl Edwards is an internationally lauded singing teacher, celebrated for his effectiveness and innovation. At the University of Toronto, Canada, with individuals in the voice studio and groups in the classroom, he continually creates significant pathways for ideal learning experiences and performance outcomes. His encouragements have most recently reached the students and voice faculty of the Hong Kong Academy of the Performing Arts as a Visiting Artist-Teacher, and the High Institute of Music in Damascus, Syria.

Honoured as a distinguished alumnist, Darryl Edwards was inducted to Western University’s “Wall of Fame” at the Don Wright Faculty of Music on Sept. 27th, 2013. He received the award from Dean of Music, Betty Anne Younker.

Dr. Edwards is the Artistic Director of the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy and COSA Canada (Centre for Opera Studies & Appreciation), which are dedicated to the development of emerging opera artists through “Extraordinary Opera Training!” At universities across Canada he is in regular demand for master class and lecture appearances. His voice teaching invitations include the Czech Republic (Charles University, Prague), New Zealand (University of Auckland), England (Royal College of Music, London), Brazil (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro) and China (Central Conservatory, Beijing and the Xi’an Conservatory). He is a distinguished alumnus and “Wall of Fame” inductee of the Don Wright Faculty of Music at Western University: London, Canada.

A hallmark of Darryl’s abilities is his extraordinary nature in elevating young singers to their best, most skilled communicative selves from the practice room to the performing stage. This is true for everyone: young vocal artists-in-training in a choral medium, in their solo own performing moments, whether it be in a local music festival class, a house or church concert, to career artists who lift their intentions into superb outcomes in international concerts, opera engagements or competitions. Each singer learns to develop the specific performing gateways and experiences that make all the difference from growing to knowing, and to consistently creating.

Dr. Edwards’ voice students regularly appear in leading roles with major companies and orchestras across Canada,the United States and Europe (The Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera Covent Garden, English National Opera, New York City Opera, Philadelphia Opera, San Francisco Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper – Munich, Zurich Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Chicago Opera Theatre, and the Canadian Opera Company).

As a tenor, Darryl Edwards appeared to critical acclaim in oratorio, recital, and opera in England, Germany, France,Italy, Corsica, the United States, and across Canada. His performances included appearances with Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, Hans Graf and the Calgary Philharmonic, the Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Christian Kabitz and the Heidelberg Bach-Chor, and Franz-Paul Decker and the National Arts Centre Orchestra.

Critics praised him as a “rich-voiced, cultured tenor who mastered the high notes effortlessly” (Coburg Tageblatt, Germany), and an “effective communicator who expressed the text with sensitivity and fervour” (Hamilton Spectator). His recordings and broadcasts include performances on American Public Radio (NPR) the Canadian Music Centre (Centrediscs), and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC Radio 2). His representative repertoire includes Britten’s War Requiem, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Kodály’s Psalmus Hungaricus, Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang, Berlioz’ L’Enfance du Christ, Handel’s Samson, Mozart’s Idomeneo, Puccini’s La Bohème, and Verdi’s La Traviata.