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Dr. Edward W. Hardy
Black-owned, Hispanic or Latinx-owned
12 years in business
We speak English
Just me
Met Gala Wedding Violinist & Sound Mix Engineer | Classical to Pop
Dr. Edward W. Hardy is a highly sought-after wedding and event violinist, recognized with multiple WeddingWire and The Knot awards, known for his refined artistry, unmatched versatility, and performances at some of the world’s most prestigious venues in the world. Based in Manhattan, NYC, he brings over two decades of professional experience to each celebration, offering a sophisticated live music experience that blends classical elegance with modern flair.
With more than 500 weddings and high-end events to his name, Dr. Hardy has performed at landmark gatherings across the U.S., including the 2025 Met Gala, 2024 MCCA Gala at The Met, NYFW’s Miss Universe feature, and the Engage!20 Retreat at Amanyara Resort in Turks & Caicos. His performances have been featured in Vogue Magazine, Forbes, HuffPost, and more.
Services Offered
As a self-contained one-man orchestra, Dr. Hardy delivers a flawless audio experience using professional-grade sound equipment—no additional setup or sound team needed. From ceremony to cocktail hour to reception, he customizes every set list to match the couple’s unique style, seamlessly performing music from Bach to Beyoncé, jazz, hip-hop, pop, and more.
A conservatory-trained artist and Doctor of Arts in violin performance, Dr. Hardy has also graced the stages of Carnegie Hall, contributed to award-winning theatrical productions, and composed music performed by orchestras nationwide.
Explore Dr. Hardy's Music lists, Setup & Luxury Violinist Attire Catalog: https://tinyurl.com/ewhlists
2025 Career Milestones:
- Three "Sunset Concerts with Dr. Edward W. Hardy" solo violin shows for Classical Theatre of Harlem
- Music Curator and Solo Violinist for the American Composers Orchestra’s "Searchlight Gala," which raised over $240,000
- Performed as a featured violinist alongside André De Shields and Drew Wutke at the 2025 American Theatre Wing Gala
- Solo violinist at Dizzy's Club: C. Anthony Bryant's "Juneteenth Jubilee Roads & Pathways"
- Featured in Vogue Magazine for his live Met Gala performance 🎻
- Performed world premieres with the Gateway Music Festival & the American Composers Orchestra at Carnegie Hall
- Runway model & violinist for NYFW / Miss Universe
- Released recordings on Decca Records, Apple Music, and Platoon
- Recorded abroad in Paris & Lyon, France
- Raised $10K+ in support of youth arts through a YMCA Newark fundraiser
- Grammy Submission: "Our Song, Our Story"
Explore Dr. Hardy's performance archive: www.edwardwhardy.com/videos
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Reviews of Edward W. Hardy
Review summary
Dr. Hardy and Edward are highly praised for their exceptional violin performances at weddings, impressing guests with their talent and professionalism. Dr. Hardy is commended for his ability to play requested songs and for adding elegance and emotion to ceremonies effortlessly. Edward is noted for his extensive song list, flexibility, and creating a personalized setlist that perfectly suits each event. Both musicians are described as easy to communicate with and capable of exceeding expectations, with guests still talking about their beautiful performances.
All-around wonderful person and musician
Edward played violin for our ceremony this August at Pier 17 in New York City. Before meeting Edward, my husband and I had no idea what music we wanted to play for the ceremony, or how we’d handle audio in an outdoor public plaza. This didn’t faze Edward in the slightest—always prepared, he shared a list of more than 500 songs (spanning classical music to pop) for us to choose from, with the option to request a song if we had something special in mind. He even had is own AV equipment and extra lapel microphones in case our officiants needed them.
Edward’s patience, professionalism, and creativity make him the ideal person to work with. He coordinated directly with our Day-of Coordinator to handle all logistics, so my husband and I never had to worry about the ceremony run-of-show. He even arrived early to reserve our ceremony spot on the pier! The AV equipment he brought worked perfectly: despite the city noise around us, every guest could hear him clearly, and his music set the fun, romantic atmosphere we had envisioned. Edward went above and beyond in every possible way and we are so grateful, it truly meant the world to us.
Highly recommend — 10 stars all the way!
He also played a special song for my husband, and he captured the essence, emotion, and meaning of it perfectly. As someone who played the violin growing up, I had very high expectations and knew how important it was to have the right violinist for our wedding day. Edward didn’t just understand our vision — he brought it to life and elevated it beyond anything I could have imagined.
Throughout the entire process, Edward was extremely professional, responsive, and an absolute pleasure to work with. Communication was smooth and reassuring, and he was incredibly accommodating, even with a last-minute request. He also went above and beyond by honoring a personal style request, which meant so much to me and made the experience feel even more special and thoughtful.
Our guests are still talking about how beautiful the music was, and I honestly can’t imagine our ceremony without him. I’m already thinking of another event just so I can hear him play again.
Elegant, unforgettable, and worth every penny!
The perfect extra touch and went above and beyond!
Absolute perfection!
The Talk of Our Wedding!
The music was absolutely gorgeous!
Couldn't have been more perfect!
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