Ace Edewards graduates from DU on June 4.
Three music degrees weren’t enough for Ace Edewards.
Edewards, a student at the Lamont School of Music who graduates on June 4, will graduate with a master’s degree in music with a dual emphasis in vocal performance and choral conducting and an artist diploma in orchestral conducting.
The 34-year-old already had a master’s degree of opera and master’s degree of music from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Scotland and a bachelor’s degree of music in vocal performance from California State University at Sacramento.
“When I was deciding what to pursue, I wasn’t prepared to make a choice,” Edewards says.
Edewards’ first love is conducting opera. He wanted to get as much experience in as many aspects of conducting and performance as possible, but it’s come with some long days. He often works 12 or 13-hour days, juggling practices, conducting lessons, work and orchestral practice.
“I hope that the experiences round out my marketability,” he says. “The more experience I have, the better.”
Edewards has conducted the Lamont Chorale, Lamont Symphony Orchestra, Lamont Wind Ensemble, Lamont Women’s Chorus, Saint Martin’s Chamber Choir and University Park United Methodist Church Choir.
As a tenor, he’s performed Conte Vladimir in Rigacci’s Dodici Personaggi in Cerca di Voce, Aeneas in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Dying Man and Preacher in Weir’s The Vanishing Bridegroom, First soldier and Lucano in Monteverdi’s l’Incoronazione di Poppea and Dr.Cajus in Verdi’s Falstaff. The list goes on and on.
He credits his instructors and the school with providing him many new opportunities, but Edewards isn’t without experience.
He grew up in France and is fluent in French and speaks basic German and Italian.
Friend and classmate Nathan Bird, a master’s student in vocal performance from Chanhassen, Minn., says Edewards experience becomes evident in his performances.
“He makes sure to understand the character completely, not just learn the notes and rhythms,” Bird says. “He really embraces the character he’s portraying.”
Bird also says he’s impressed to see how important Edewards’ Christian faith is to him.
“Everyone who knows him knows he’s super passionate, but he’s also a gentleman through and through.”
For more information or to watch the Commencement ceremony, visit www.du.edu/commencement.