He is a violist born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania who studied with the violist Leonard Mogill at the Settlement Music School while still attending Overbrook High School. He took further studies at the New School of Music alongside being taught in Philadelphia by Karen Tuttle.
In 1970 he became the first permanent African-American member of The Philadelphia Orchestra. During his career with the orchestra he has performed in countless concerts and events nationally and internationally and took part in the 1973 tour of China as the first American orchestra to appear there, returning in the 1990s.
Active in the recording studio he has performed on albums that include La La Means I Love You by The Delfonics, Everyboy’s Dancin’ by Kool and the Gang, Broadway Showstoppers: Now That’s Entertainment by Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, Peter Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique”/Dumka by The Philadelphia Orchestra, Grieg, Puccini, Gershwin: String Quartet in G Minor, Chrysanthemums and Lullaby by the Philarte Quartet and What’cha Gonna Do by O.C. Smith.
In the field of musical education he has been on the faculties of Temple University and the Philadelphia International Music Festival.
Sources:
- https://www.philorch.org/your-philorch/meet-your-orchestra/musicians/renard-edwards/
- http://www.pomusicians.org/renard-edwards.html
- https://philadelphiamusicfestival.org/our-faculty/strings/renard-edwards-philadelphia-orchestra/
- https://settlementmusic.org/about-settlement/settlement-100/
- https://news.cgtn.com/news/2020-07-29/Philadelphia-Orchestra-members-recall-their-1973-trip-to-China-SvM9YQfxNm/index.html
- https://www.temple.edu/bulletin/archive/webarchive/bulletin2013/Academic_programs/schools_colleges/boyer/music/intro/faculty/music_faculty.shtm