Music aficionado Mark Edwards is one of the most active educators and performers in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Known for his intellectual, expressive and humorous mannerisms, he can be regularly seen playing and hosting events at many of the area's best entertainment and concert settings.

Mr. Edwards maintains a busy concert schedule in appearances as leader and keyboardist with his own jazz and funk band The Mad Jazzsters. He has held the position of artistic director and conductor of the Audubon Symphony Orchestra from 1997 through 2009. In addition, he provides disc jockey, sound reinforcement and karaoke services for various performances and events.

Mark Edwards has retired from service with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. His last position was a Corrections Activities Specialist with the Department of Corrections. Prior to that, he has had an exceptional twenty-one year career as an Institutional Music Teacher at the State Correctional Institution at Graterford.

During his tenure as a prison music teacher, Mr. Edwards has provided comprehensive programming and activities for the residents who wish to improve themselves through the musical experience. His music program was featured nationally in the October 2002 premier episode of the VH-1 series Music Behind Bars. In 1996, original music by Mr. Edwards and resident musicians was featured on the NFL films television special Football America. He also performed with his prison jazz ensemble Soundessence as the opening act for the Philadelphia area Mellon Jazz Festival in 1990 and 1991. He has also written and performed music for the annual D.O.C. talent competitions winning first place state-wide in four consecutive years. The 2001 entry entitled W.T.C. was composed as a lament for the victims of the 9-11 attacks.

Mark Edwards received his Bachelor of Science in Music Education degree from West Chester University where he concentrated in both instrumental and vocal fields of study. He was a four year member of the popular Golden Rams Marching Band as an instrumentalist in the drum line and in the tuba section. He is a long standing member of the Music Educators National Conference and the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. He currently teaches privately and instructs percussion classes at Archbishop Carroll High School, and has been the music director and pit orchestra conductor for the musical theater productions at Upper Merion High School for the past four years. Behind the baton, he has conducted major works by Beethoven, Handel, Mozart, Gershwin, Copland, Bach, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky and many others with the Audubon Symphony Orchestra. He is a member of the American Symphony Orchestra League.

In conjunction with his live musical positions, Mr. Edwards has long been interested in recorded music. Since 1986 he has been proprietor of EmCee Entertainment, performing both as professional disc jockey for wedding receptions and all kinds of celebrations and as sound engineer for local bands and events. From 1992 to the present he has provided sound reinforcement the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in Conshohocken. He also has volunteered services for the Upper Perkiomen Relay for Life yearly event. He is an active member of the American Disc Jockey Association.

Mark Edwards has performed professionally as a jazz and pop cocktail pianist and as a rock and pop guitarist and vocalist. He has also composed and arranged music for orchestral, jazz and pop ensembles. He lives with his wife and two daughters near Pottstown, Pennsylvania.

"Great music inspires great things."

Contact Information: 610-935-7462
medwards@musicbyemcee.com
P.O. Box 138, Phoenixville, PA 19460