Traveling Through Time
JANUARY 12
1992
Edward W. Hardy was born on January 12, 1992, in Manhattan, New York City.
At the age of seven, Hardy wins first place of the Cullman Rookie Chess Tournament, K-2nd grade, beginners.
By seven and a half, Hardy begins playing the violin at Opus 118 Harlem School of the arts.
1999
MAY 26
MARCH 9
He also wins sixth place in the Ultimate Chess Challenge (Chess-in-the-Schools), K-2nd grade, beginners.
Circa SEPTEMBER
2003
He begins studying at Juilliard's Music Advancement Program (MAP).
c. SEPTEMBER
DECEMBER 2
Hardy has his first Carnegie Hall performance in "Fiddlefest at Carnegie" on the Stern Auditorium/ Perelman Stage.
2004
Attends the Manhattan School of Music's Summer Camp Program each summer from 2004- 2006.
SEPTEMBER
JULY
By age twelve, Hardy is enrolled in both the Bloomingdale School of Music and the Manhattan School of Music Pre-College Division after-school programs and continued for five consecutive years until 2010.
He receives the MAP Achievement Award, issued by Bloomingdale School of Music, and wins second prize in their 13th Annual Performance Competition (Upper Intermediate Level).
2005
JUNE
Hardy secured first prize in the Vincent Wagner Concerto Competition on violin, awarded by the Bloomingdale School of Music. Additionally, he received the David Greer Prize for winning first prize in the 15th Annual Performance Competition (Advanced Level) and also secured first prize in their 15th Annual Chamber Music Competition.
2007
JUNE
After being expelled from the Bloomingdale School of Music for studying violin at the Manhattan School of Music simultaneously, Hardy was invited to return on a different instrument and choose the viola. As a violist, he then won first prize in the 2008 Vincent Wagner Concerto Competition, first prize in the 16th Annual Chamber Music Competition, and received the MAP Chamber Music Award.
2008
JUNE
Hardy receives the Gaylord White Award and the Leadership Award, both issued by the Union Settlement Association. Additionally, after five years, he completes his studies and graduates from the Manhattan School of Music pre-college division on May 15.
2010
MAY
Despite being promised a scholarship, Hardy attends Purchase College, State University of New York on viola, only to find out that the promised scholarship funds were already awarded to other students. He did not receive any scholarship funding from the Conservatory of Music between 2006 - 2009.
SEPTEMBER
JUNE
Hardy graduates from Talent Unlimited High School in Manhattan, NY, earning a Chancellor's Endorsed Diploma for the Arts (Advanced Designation Through the Arts: Music) and the Patrick Gallagher Performing Arts Award in Instrumental Music.
2000
JUNE
He received an Outstanding Achievement in Mathematics Award, issued by the Math Teachers Committee (UFT), affiliated with the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
OCTOBER
Hardy finds an opportunity to play the violin by auditioning for a Conservatory of Theatre Arts production of Chekhov's Three Sisters and secures the role of the onstage violinist who also plays a Russian soldier and beggar. The production, held at the PepsiCo Theatre, ran for eight shows between Oct. 15 and 23.
2011
2012
c. NOVEMBER
Hardy begins composing The Woodsman (Musical Score) for himself to perform, as a violinist, and finishes the score by early January 2013.
He performs as a violinist and violist onstage in Cleage's Blue For An Alabama Sky, presented by the Conservatory of Theatre Arts.
APRIL
SEPTEMBER
Hardy was appointed principal violist of the Purchase Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he became a resident assistant, an office assistant at the Conservatory of Music, and took on roles as an usher and café barista at the Performing Arts Center.
Hardy, along with thirty-seven other Purchase College students, was inducted into the National Society of Leadership and Success.
DECEMBER 14
Hardy's The Woodsman premieres at Standard ToyKraft in Brooklyn, NY, a part of Strangemen Theatre Company's A Play & A Party, and has two sold-out shows.
JANUARY 18-19
2013
2014
MAY 14
Hardy graduates from SUNY Purchase with a Bachelors of Music degree in Viola Performance, cum laude.
JUNE
Hardy's The Woodsman returns to Standard ToyKraft for four sold-out shows between June 13-16. A sold-out one-night-only performance took place at Ars Nova on June 18.
Hardy performs in The Woodsman's sold-out, three-week run in Off-Broadway's 59E59 Theaters from January 30 - February 16.
JANUARY
He performs as the composer, music director and solo violinist in The Woodsman's sold-out, three-week run in Off-Broadway's 59E59 Theaters from January 30 - February 16.
JANUARY
SEPTEMBER
Hardy receives the Van Lier Scholarship, awarded by the Manhattan School of Music, along with a $20,000 violin on loan to support his continued studies at MSM from 2005 to 2010.
2016
FEBRUARY 1
By the age of 24 and after three semesters, Hardy graduates from the Aaron Copland School of Music with a Master of Music degree in Violin Performance, cum laude.
2015
AUGUST
Hardy begins his graduate studies in violin performance at the Aaron Copland School of Music with Daniel Phillips.
Hardy made his violin soloist debut at the Colour of Music Festival's Virtuosi concert, conducted by Marlon Daniel. He performed Vivaldi's "Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 8, RV 315, 'L'estate' (Summer)" at America's first museum, the Wilcox Auditorium at the Charleston Museum, founded in 1773.
OCTOBER 22
JANUARY - FEBRUARY
Hardy performed once again in The Woodsman, which returned to 59E59 Theaters for a sold-out six-week run from January 13 to February 22.
He has his second concert as a professional violin soloist in The Church-in-the-Gardens' Unity in Music, a free concert honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Hardy performed Vivaldi's "Summer" violin concerto.
JANUARY 18
MARCH - APRIL
Hardy becomes a substitute violinist and violist for the Sweet Plantain String Quartet, touring and performing as a violist at venues such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art (Mar. 27-28), Albany Barn (Apr. 9) and Troy Savings Bank Music Hall (Apr. 10).
He began co-composing music for a new theatrical show called A Brooklyn Boy. Hardy performs in the show as a solo violinist and has three performances at The National Black Theatre: April 30, and May 13-14.
APRIL - MAY
MAY 28
Hardy has his first gig as a music contractor and performer, hiring saxophonists Karla Aristy and Jordan Pettry, bassist Yuta Tanaka, and percussionist Abby Fisher for the VIP Gala event marking the Opening of the One World Observatory at One World Trade Center.
Hardy's A Brooklyn Boy returns for a one-night-only performance at Vineyard Theatre.
JUNE 28
SEPTEMBER 4-6
Hardy performs with the Sweet Plantain String Quartet again, touring and performing as a violist at the Shrine of Ages, and also gives masterclasses at the Native American Composers Apprentice Project, a part of the Grand Canyon Music Festival in Arizona.
Hardy performs as a violinist at the 2015 Colour of Music Festival in Charleston, South Carolina
OCTOBER 22-25