Berlin-based musician and pedagogue Edward King has been a lecturer for cello at the Leopold Mozart Center in Augsburg since 2019. Originally from New Zealand, he established himself quickly in Europe as the result of successes at the XI Witold Lutosławski
International Cello Competition and the International Cello Competition in Markneukichen. At the International Krzysztof Penderecki Cello Competition, he was presented with a special prize by Penderecki himself for the best interpretation of his Divertimento.

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In addition to his teaching activities, Edward enjoys a multi-faceted performing career, collaborating with a diverse array of ensembles around Europe and further afield. He has a wide-ranging repertoire and is especially interested in projects that unearth new perspectives on the classical canon. He enjoys experimenting with all types of music: early, contemporary, world, chamber, electronic, improvised, rearranged, and recomposed.

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Edward is in high demand as jury and commission member: at the International Cello Competition in Markneukirchen, the Wallace International Cello Competition, and Kalaidos Musikhochschule, among others. He has regularly played as a principal cellist: in the Sydney Opera House, for the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, or with 2021 Opus Klassik award-winners Ensemble Mini.

 

In addition to giving masterclasses internationally: in Augustów, Poland, at the University of Waikato, and the University of Augsburg, Edward has a passion for the education of diverse youths, and has supported various elementary educational and outreach programmes in cooperation with the Royal Overseas League (UK), the National M.K. Čiurlionis School of Art in Lithuania, and with indigenous communities in rural New Zealand.

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Edward is a member of the O/Modernt Chamber Orchestra, as well as a founding member of hear now berlin., a sextet devoted to post-genre contemporary music. He also enjoys a particularly deep musical collaboration as part of the Grazinyte-King Duo. Edward plays on a modern German instrument, made by Robert König in 2017.

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Teachers: James Tennant, Prof. Julius Berger, Prof. Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt

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“I very much treasure [his] talent and skills as a cellist”

- Arvo Pärt

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“An outstanding cellist…at home in all musical styles from Bach to the avant-garde. He has a warm tone, an incredibly creative imagination, and a clear analytical mind”

- Prof. Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt