John L. Edwards presents a concert featuring a few of his favorites: some his favorite pieces and his favorite musicians to collaborate with!
John L. Edwards, piccolo and organ
with
John P. Allen, trombone
Cynthia Cortright, piano
Martin King, alto saxophone
Rondal J. Wallace, piano
This diverse program features the majestic Sonata in A by César Franck (adapted for Piccolo by John L. Edwards), settings of favorite hymns “To God Be the Glory” and “It Is Well With My Soul,” the haunting “O Magnum Mysterium” of Morten Lauridsen, adapted for trombone and organ, and the Sonate for saxophone and organ of Denis Bédard.
JOHN L. EDWARDS, piccolo and organ
John L. Edwards is the Organist at the First Presbyterian Church of Oklahoma City, where he has served since May 1, 1991.
In addition to being an organist, John specializes in playing all types of flutes. He has the distinction of having performed on eight different flute or keyboard instruments with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. He performs regularly with the Kemp Concert Series hosted by First Presbyterian Church. Mr. Edwards also performs with Tactus, the Oklahoma Baroque Orchestra and is the Principal Flutist with the Irv Wagner Concert Band.
John has been an active accompanist, accompanying several choirs at Oklahoma City University, Canterbury Voices and the Edmond Community Chorale, among others.
Mr. Edwards received his Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma City University where he also did post-graduate work. His organ instructors have included James Curtis “Curt” Chambers, Dr. Wilma Jensen and Dr. Antone Godding. His flute instructors were Jean-Louis Kashy, Dr. Eleanor Duncan Armstrong and Barbara Davis. John has had the privilege to participate in the flute master classes of James Galway, Jean-Pierre Rampal and with baroque flutist Stephen Preston, and has participated in organ master classes with Marilyn Mason, Clyde Holloway and Russell P. Saunders.
He has recorded professionally with pianist Rondal J. Wallace and is a co-founding member of the instrumental ensemble Oklahoma City RONDEAU. Mr. Edwards holds the Colleague (CAGO) Certificate from the American Guild of Organists and is a member of the National Flute Association and the Oklahoma Flute Society.
The piccolo used in todays performance, formerly owned by long-time Oklahoma City Philharmonic player, Feodora Steward, was specifically hand-made for her by the Boston flute maker, Verne Q. Powell in 1953.
JOHN ALLEN, trombone
John Allen has been a member of the Oklahoma City Philharmonic for 15 years, spending much of that time as Principal Trombonist. In 2018, John moved to the Bass Trombone chair so that he could pursue the instrument that is his first love. Concurrent to his tenure in the orchestra, he taught trombone and led the Jazz Ensemble at Oklahoma City University. John retired from OCU at the end of 2021, having just been named General Manager of the Philharmonic. Before moving to Oklahoma, Mr. Allen spent 18 years as an active recitalist, chamber musician, and freelance player in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. John Allen and John Edwards have collaborated many times, and Mr. Allen is greatly honored to be invited to participate in this program.
CYNTHIA CORTRIGHT, piano
Pianist Cynthia Cortright has earned a fine reputation as a soloist, collaborative artist and teacher. Her academic degrees include a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance from Indiana University. In 1994, at the invitation of the U.S. State Department, Cortright served as Artistic Ambassador in an extended tour to Israel, Jordan, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Syria with soprano Julie McCoy. Dr. Cortright has a well-established private piano studio in Oklahoma City, and serves as Organist/Choir Director at St. John's Episcopal Church in Oklahoma City.
MARTIN KING, alto saxophone
Martin King is a retired Oklahoma band director. He taught in the Putnam City Public Schools for fourteen years and at Carl Albert for sixteen years. During that time he was selected as the Oklahoma Bandmaster of the Year in 2000 and chosen for the Oklahoma Bandmaster’s Hall of Fame in 2013.
Over the last 45 years, Mr. King has also taught as an adjunct woodwind instructor at UCO, OCU, Oklahoma Christian, and OU. He has also taught woodwind techniques at OCU and UCO.
For the past 49 years, Martin has played for the Lyric Theatre and most all of the musicals that have toured in OKC. He also maintains a private lesson studio of students from Edmond, Midwest City, and Choctaw.
RONDAL J. WALLACE, piano
Rondal J. Wallace has taught music at both the high school and collegiate level. Rondal has been a church musician in the Oklahoma City area for over fifty years. He is currently on the staff of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church as their organist. Mr. Wallace holds the degrees of Bachelor of Music and Masters of Music Education from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. He also serves as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Choral Directors Association.
He is a professional accompanist in the Oklahoma City area. He has played for numerous concerts and recitals throughout the United States and Europe. Rondal has performed extensively and recorded professionally with flutist, John L. Edwards.
Mr. Wallace and Mr. Edwards are co-founders of the instrumental ensemble Oklahoma City RONDEAU. Mr. Wallace is a member of the following professional musical organizations: ACDA, OCDA, OMEA, and he is nationally certified with MTNA.