The Traverso
The Traverse (side-blown) Flute is one of the oldest instruments.
John L. Edwards explores flutes and their music, playing 25 different flutes from a variety of cultures and historical periods.
Joining Mr. Edwards will be Carey Morrow playing members of the lute family.
John L. Edwards
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 flutes of all types. He has the distinction of having played eight different flute and keyboard instruments with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic. His performances throughout the Southwest, California, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, and England, have won the respect of his peers and the acclaim of local critics, whether appearing on the concert stage with his flute, or at the organ console in churches and recital halls.
John performs regularly on the Kemp Concert Series hosted by First Presbyterian Church and plays with Tactus a professional Chamber Orchestra & Vocal Ensemble, and with the Oklahoma Baroque Orchestra, and has played Principal Flute under the baton of Irv Wagner's Concert Band. In April 2019, Mr. Edwards was a solo flutist in the Oklahoma premiere of Ralph Vaughan Williams: Epithalamion for Chorus, Baritone, Flute, and Strings, performed by the University of Central Oklahoma and the Edmond Community Chorale. He was featured with the Oklahoma Baroque Orchestra playing the Mozart Flute Concerto in D on Baroque flute, April 2024. John will present The Traverso a lecture/recital at the National Flute Association 2024 Convention In San Antonio, Texas on August 3rd, and in March of 2025 Mr. Edwards will premier a work for piccolo and piano by Amanda Harberg, commissioned by the Oklahoma Flute Society honoring the memory of Feodora Steward, playing her 1953 Powell piccolo.
John received his Bachelor of Music degree in Flute Performance from Oklahoma City University where he also did his post-graduate work and taught flute in the Preparatory Department for five years. While at OCU he appeared as a featured soloist with the majority of the university’s ensembles. His flute instructors have included 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 baroque flutist Stephen Preston.
He has recorded professionally with pianist Rondal J. Wallace, and along with Mr. Wallace is a co-founding member of the instrumental ensemble Oklahoma City RONDEAU.
John is a member of the National Flute Association, the Oklahoma Flute Society, and a Colleague of the American Guild of Organists.