Edward J. Madden born in Derry, NH, was educated in the public schools of Derry, Portland Maine and Manchester, NH and received advanced degrees from the University of New Hampshire and Boston University, where he studied composition with Robert Manton (a pupil of D?Indy) Dr. Hugo Norden, and Gardner Read (a student of Sibelius).
Rapheal Hillyer, famous violist of the Julliard String Quartet once remarked “His virtuosity is in his versatility” of Ed?s eclectic career as a performer, composer/arranger. conductor and music educator. A legendary first call Boston area trombone and piano artist, he is also known in the concert band world for his sparkling compositions and arrangements which have appeared on concerts in the USA, Europe and Japan.
His prolific pen has also created original commissioned arrangements for “Big Band” acts, choral groups, orchestras, and some 400 titles for the marching bands of Arizona State, Clemson, Brigham Young, Stephen F. Austin, Harvard and other universities. In addition he co-founded the nationally known Fairbanks, Alaska Summer Arts Festival where for ten years he was Artistic Director, Symphony Orchestra Conductor and jazz trombone soloist.
His name is associated with music of high quality in all his chosen writing idioms with the remarkable characteristics of his concern for the dominance of melody and/or countermelody, along with a penchant for a rich harmonic texture consistent with the classic or contemporary style in which the work is created. It is these qualities, combined with his uncommon freshness of orchestration, that has made his music so appealing.
