Choirmaster and organist born Edward Elwyn Jones in Wales who attended Emmanuel College at the University of Cambridge before moving to the U.S. in 1998, when he became the assistant organist and organ scholar at Harvard Memorial Church. (He has since gone on to become their choirmaster, as well.)
In 2000, he fulfilled similar duties at Christ Church United Methodist in New York, New York, whilst doing his master’s work at The Mannes College of Music.
Then he became the seventh choirmaster and organist in the history of Harvard University. On 22nd November 2009 (St. Cecilia’s Day) he premiered Carson Cooman’s “The Acts of the Apostles”. This was followed by the University’s 100th Carols Service, which premiered Carson Cooman’s setting of “Love Came Down at Christmas” and Alice Parker’s fantasia on “While Shepherds Watched”.
“For unto us a Child is Born”: Edward and his wife welcomed Henry Elwyn Forsythe-Jones into the world on 28th February 2010.
On Palm Sunday in 2010, the Harvard Baroque Chamber Orchestra and the Harvard University Choir performed “St. John Passion” by Johann Sebastian Bach. Their Easter Sunday service included Horatio Parker’s “Light’s Glittering Morn” and the premiere of John Rutter’s new setting of “Most Glorious Lord of Life”.
Edward was one of the last organists to strike a note on the Fisk Opus 46 organ in Appleton Chapel, which is being replaced but has found a new home at a Presbyterian church in Austin, Texas.
In 2015 he also became Music Director of Lowell House Opera.
Recordings on which Edward appears include Christmas in the Busch and The 95th Annual Christmas Carol Services.
Harvard University Choir recordings
Adeste Fidelis (Frederick Oakeley/John Francis Wade)
Pro Organo CD 7134 (Christmas in the Busch)
The Harvard University Choir
Conductor – Murray Forbes Somerville
Harvard Baroque Chamber Orchestra
Director – Robert Mealy
The Harvard Brass
Soprano – Awet Andemicael
Bass – Mark Risinger
Organists – Erica Johnson and Edward Jones
Here’s Edward Jones directing “Love Came Down at Christmas” by the Harvard University Choir…
Sources:
- http://www.emma.cam.ac.uk/collegelife/chapel/choir/scholarships/
- http://www.uchoir.harvard.edu/director.html
- http://www.constellationcenter.org/supporters/index.htm
- http://www.memorialchurch.harvard.edu/pdf/spring2010newsletter.pdf
- http://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2010/05/the-last-notes/
- http://www.uchoir.harvard.edu/recordings.html
- Liner notes: Christmas at the Busch