Edward King

Berlin-based musician and pedagogue Edward King has been teaching cello at the “Leopold Mozart Center” in Augsburg since 2019. Originally from New Zealand, he quickly established himself in Europe through his successes winning the “XI Witold Lutosławski International Cello Competition” and the “International Cello Competition” in Markneukichen. At the “International Cello Competition – Krzysztof Penderecki,” King received a special prize from Penderecki himself for the best interpretation of his “Divertimento.” In addition to his teaching activities, Edward has a multifaceted career, collaborating with a wide range of ensembles throughout Europe, and beyond. He has an extensive repertoire and is particularly interested in projects that bring to light new perspectives related to the classical canon. He enjoys experimenting with all types of music: early, contemporary, world, chamber, electronic, improvised, rearranged and recomposed. Edward is in great demand as a jury and commission member: at the “International Cello Competition in Markneukirchen,” the “Wallace International Cello Competition,” and the “Kalaidos Musikhochschule,” among others. He has played regularly as principal cellist: in the “Sydney Opera House,” for the “New Zealand Symphony Orchestra,” or with the prize winners of the “Opus Klassik 2021 Ensemble Mini.” In addition to giving master classes internationally in Augustów, Poland and, in addition, at the University of Waikato and the University of Augsburg, Edward has a passion for educating the youngest and has supported various elementary education and outreach programs 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. Edward is a member of the “O/Modernt Chamber Orchestra,” as well as a founding member of “Hear Now Berlin,” a sextet dedicated to post-genre contemporary music. He has, in addition, enjoyed a particularly deep musical collaboration as part of the Grazinyte-King Duo. Edward plays a modern German instrument, made by Robert König in 2017. His teachers include Professor James Tennant, Professor Julius Berger, and Professor Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt. Of him Arvo Part says, “I treasure his talent and skills as a cellist very much.” According to Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt: “King is an outstanding cellist…at ease in all styles of music, from Bach to more avant-garde composition. He has a warm tone, an incredibly creative imagination and a clear analytical mind.”