VALERIE EDWARDS

I come from a long line of composers, conductors, cantors and orchestral musicians. My father, Sherman Edwards, was a big-band jazz pianist and composer of many rock-and-roll hits including "See You in September", "Wonderful, Wonderful" and "Broken-Hearted Melody". He wrote the music and original book for the Tony-award-winning Broadway musical "1776", which was first produced in 1969. My grandmother, Rae Rosenblatt Edwards, was a talented pianist who accompanied silent movies and worked as a 'song plugger' in New York's Tin Pan Alley. My third cousins twice removed, Moshe, David, Simcha and Jacob Koussevitzky, were world-renowned cantors. My second cousin three-times removed was Serge Koussevitsky, famed conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Frank Martin, my great-grand-uncle, was a well known Swiss composer.

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I started piano lessons when I was six. My first band instrument was the flutofone. I took up the oboe at ten. In 1975, I graduated from Boston University's School of Fine and Applied Arts (now College of Fine Arts- School of Music) with a Bachelor's degree in Music. 

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​​During the 1990s I sang with several choruses, including the Zamir Chorale, a renowned group that performed works from the Jewish musical repertoire, including the beautiful "Chatzi Kaddish" by composer Jack Gottlieb for chorus and piano. I also sang with the Boston Community Choir, a Gospel group whose performances included Boston First Night and Gospel Night at the Boston Pops.

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I retired from the music business in 1994, and now I play percussion for fun. I particularly enjoy experimenting with tambourines, washboards, djembes, hand drums, shakers, cowbells, triangles, chimes, rattles, bells and gongs. It resonates for me when drumming and chanting are approached as spiritual practices, and I incorporate music and rhythm in my contemplative circles.

 

I love spontaneously composing and singing silly song lyrics, which I do frequently, and with great enjoyment. This is a talent that comes in very handy when I collaborate on Purim spiels.

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I especially enjoy jamming with other musicians in community music-making settings such as bluegrass festivals and drum circles. Singalongs are another favorite of mine, especially around Christmas and New Year's Eve. I have many wonderful memories of accompanying friends and neighbors on the piano while they sang carols, folksongs and oldies. 

 

My taste in music is diverse and eclectic, because I like just about any kind of music that stirs my soul. Listen to my Soul Transformation Playlist here.

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