Edward W. Hardy

Met Gala Wedding Violinist, Sound Mix Engineer

NYC | Nationwide by special request

Travel area: No travel restrictions See details

5.0

Verified reviews from real couples

Highly recommend — 10 stars all the way! I was completely amazed by Edward. From the very first note, his performance set the tone for our ceremony in the most beautiful and emotional way. Every time I hear the instrumental version of the song I walked down the aisle to, I still get goosebumps — that’s how powerful and unforgettable his music was. He also played a special song for my husband, and he captured the essence, emotion, and meaning of it perfectly. As someone who played the violin growing up, I had very high expectations and knew how important it was to have the right violinist for our wedding day. Edward didn’t just understand our vision — he brought it to life and elevated it beyond anything I could have imagined. Throughout the entire process, Edward was extremely professional, responsive, and an absolute pleasure to work with. Communication was smooth and reassuring, and he was incredibly accommodating, even with a last-minute request. He also went above and beyond by honoring a personal style request, which meant so much to me and made the experience feel even more special and thoughtful. Our guests are still talking about how beautiful the music was, and I honestly can’t imagine our ceremony without him. I’m already thinking of another event just so I can hear him play again.

Sabrina S.

5.0

My husband and I saw Dr. Edward Hardy perform at the MET when we first started dating, so we knew the perfect touch for our wedding would be to have him perform. Hands down, Edward was our favorite vendor and was our guests’ most talked about part of our wedding. First off, Edward was incredibly accommodating. We booked him on less than two weeks’ notice and everything still went off without a hitch. In the few days before our wedding, Edward took the time to speak with us at length to make sure we were completely satisfied with all the song choices. He was responsive, communicative, and incredibly helpful in making sure we matched our vision. Most importantly, he is incredibly kind and fun to talk to. At the wedding, he performed a combination of classical songs for our ceremony and popular tunes for our cocktail hour. Our guests talked about how incredible he was for weeks after our wedding. Edward was truly the perfect touch for our wedding day and I truly cannot imagine how the day would have gone without him. We can’t wait to see Edward perform again. If you are looking for the perfect unique touch for our wedding, we cannot recommend Edward enough.

Katherine M.

5.0

Dr. Edward W. Hardy

OWNER

Typically responds within 24h

AWARD WINNER (3X)

Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot

Met Gala & Luxury Wedding Violinist: One-Man Orchestra | From Bach to Beyoncé Voted “NYC’s Best Wedding Violinist” for two consecutive years by WeddingWire and The Knot couples, Dr. Edward W. Hardy is an award-winning composer, virtuoso violinist, and professional musician based in Manhattan, New York City. With over 21 years of performance experience, he has played for more than 500 weddings and luxury events across the United States, including the 2025 Met Gala, the 2024 MCCA Gala at The Met, the 2025 New York Fashion Week event featuring Miss Universe Victoria Kjaer Theilvig, and the Engage!20 Retreat at the Amanyara Resort in Turks & Caicos. Known for his remarkable talent and versatility, Dr. Hardy creates elegant, romantic, and unforgettable atmospheres, enhancing the beauty of weddings with his sophisticated musical touch. More than just a violinist, Dr. Hardy is a self-sufficient one-man orchestra, supplying high-quality sound, powered microphones, and cables to ensure a seamless performance at any venue—no additional setup required. Dr. Hardy is a conservatory-trained musician holding a Doctor of Arts degree in violin performance from the University of Northern Colorado. His impressive career spans performances at iconic venues like Carnegie Hall, collaborations in acclaimed theatrical productions, residencies at prestigious institutions, and features in publications including Forbes, Huffington Post, New York Magazine, The Hollywood Reporter, and Vogue Magazine. His repertoire spans genres from Bach to Beyoncé, making him the perfect choice for top-tier wedding and event entertainment. Whether performing classical music, hip-hop, pop, jazz, or rock, he takes pride in personalizing every performance—incorporating special song requests to create truly memorable moments. "Edward W. Hardy, who composed the omnipresent music, plays the violin superbly." – The New York Times Music lists, Setup & Luxury Violinist Attire Catalog: https://tinyurl.com/ewhlists 2025 Career Highlights: Music Curator and Solo Violinist for the American Composers Orchestra’s "Searchlight Gala," which raised over $240,000 ✅ Three "Sunset Concerts with Dr. Edward W. Hardy" solo violin shows for Classical Theatre of Harlem ✅ Performed as a featured violinist alongside André De Shields and Drew Wutke at the 2025 American Theatre Wing Gala ✅ Solo violinist at Dizzy's Club: C. Anthony Bryant's "Juneteenth Jubilee Roads & Pathways" ✅ Featured in Vogue Magazine performing at the Met Gala: "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style" ✅ Ebony Magazine / Gateway Music Festival world premiere at Carnegie Hall ✅ American Composers Orchestra world premieres at Carnegie Hall ✅ New York Fashion Week runway model and featured violinist for Miss Universe ✅ YMCA of Newark fundraiser — raised ~$10,000 ✅ Decca Records album release ✅ Apple Music / Platoon album release ✅ International recordings in Paris & Lyon, France ✅ More: www.edwardwhardy.com/links

Black-owned and Hispanic or Latinx-owned Business

12+ years in business

Speaks English

Just me

Details

Instruments

Violin

Music Genres

Classical

Country

EDM

Folk

Hip-Hop

Jazz

Latin

Pop

R&B

Rock

Music Services

Live Music

Recorded Music

Sound Equipment

Wedding Activities

Rehearsals & Parties

After Party

Rehearsal Dinner

Welcome Party

Wedding

After Party

Ceremony

Cocktail Hour

Rehearsal Dinner

Awards and Affiliations

3-Time 'Best of Weddings'

2026.2025.2023.

Join couples who chose award-winning vendors for their wedding

Meet the team

Dr. Edward W. Hardy

Violinist | Music Curator | Sound Mix Engineer

Praised for “composing the omnipresent music and playing the violin superbly” (The New York Times), composer–violinist Dr. Edward W. Hardy bridges classical, contemporary, and Black musical traditions. Known for his acclaimed score for the Obie Award–winning "The Woodsman," he has performed at Carnegie Hall 32 times and appeared at Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, the Met Gala, and New York Fashion Week. A DownBeat Award winner with two albums, eight singles, and a growing catalog of genre-spanning compositions, he continues shaping contemporary violin performance through storytelling and cultural reflection. BM: SUNY Purchase College, MM: Aaron Copland School of Music, Queens College, DA: University of Northern Colorado. www.edwardwhardy.com.

5.0

out of 5.0

36 reviews

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Review Summary

This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.

Dr. Edward Hardy was praised as a professional, responsive, and accommodating violinist whose emotional, elegant performances elevated ceremonies and cocktail hours. He offers a vast repertoire from classical to pop/R&B, brings his own AV, and handles logistics seamlessly. Couples and guests called his music unforgettable and highly recommended.

Search reviews

Katherine M

Highlighted review.

My husband and I saw Dr. Edward Hardy perform at the MET when we first started dating, so we knew the perfect touch for our wedding would be to have him perform. Hands down, Edward...

was our favorite vendor and was our guests’ most talked about part of our wedding. First off, Edward was incredibly accommodating. We booked him on less than two weeks’ notice and everything still went off without a hitch. In the few days before our wedding, Edward took the time to speak with us at length to make sure we were completely satisfied with all the song choices. He was responsive, communicative, and incredibly helpful in making sure we matched our vision. Most importantly, he is incredibly kind and fun to talk to. At the wedding, he performed a combination of classical songs for our ceremony and popular tunes for our cocktail hour. Our guests talked about how incredible he was for weeks after our wedding. Edward was truly the perfect touch for our wedding day and I truly cannot imagine how the day would have gone without him. We can’t wait to see Edward perform again. If you are looking for the perfect unique touch for our wedding, we cannot recommend Edward enough.

Sabrina S

Highly recommend — 10 stars all the way! I was completely amazed by Edward. From the very first note, his performance set the tone for our ceremony in the most beautiful and emo...

tional way. Every time I hear the instrumental version of the song I walked down the aisle to, I still get goosebumps — that’s how powerful and unforgettable his music was. He also played a special song for my husband, and he captured the essence, emotion, and meaning of it perfectly. As someone who played the violin growing up, I had very high expectations and knew how important it was to have the right violinist for our wedding day. Edward didn’t just understand our vision — he brought it to life and elevated it beyond anything I could have imagined. Throughout the entire process, Edward was extremely professional, responsive, and an absolute pleasure to work with. Communication was smooth and reassuring, and he was incredibly accommodating, even with a last-minute request. He also went above and beyond by honoring a personal style request, which meant so much to me and made the experience feel even more special and thoughtful. Our guests are still talking about how beautiful the music was, and I honestly can’t imagine our ceremony without him. I’m already thinking of another event just so I can hear him play again.

Any questions?

Megan C

Having Dr. Hardy perform at our wedding was effortless and unforgettable! His performance added elegance and emotion to every moment, and he managed all the details, from sound set...

up to coordinating with our planner, with complete ease. Also, he didn’t need anything from the venue! He set up wherever we wanted and simply did his thing. Our guests couldn’t stop complimenting how fun and beautiful his pop music was, as well as his stylish tuxedo jacket!

Jake K

Elegant, unforgettable, and worth every penny! Dr. Hardy elevated our NYC wedding ceremony and cocktail hour at Guastavino’s, and our guests are still talking about the music!

Jessica S

I LOVE seeing all the pics and videos from our wedding day! Thank you for being the perfect extra touch and going above and beyond for us.

Marinela T

ABSOLUTE PERFECTION! Thank you so much for bringing our R&B vision come to life!

Katherine B

You’ve been the talk of our wedding!!! Thank you so much for making the night so perfect!

Daniel C

Dr. Hardy, thank you for everything! It was absolutely gorgeous! And your other Taylor Swift selections, beyond of requests of "Enchanted" and "Wildest Dreams," were exactly what u...

s Swifties wanted!

Patrick W

Thank you again, Edward!!!!! You were everything and more!!! Truly one of my highlights of an incredible unforgettable day!!!

Emily K

Edward was an absolute joy to work with for our wedding. Beyond being a remarkably talented musician, he is kind, calm, professional, and an all-around wonderful person to collabor...

ate with. Edward played violin for our ceremony this August at Pier 17 in New York City. Before meeting Edward, my husband and I had no idea what music we wanted to play for the ceremony, or how we’d handle audio in an outdoor public plaza. This didn’t faze Edward in the slightest—always prepared, he shared a list of more than 500 songs (spanning classical music to pop) for us to choose from, with the option to request a song if we had something special in mind. He even had is own AV equipment and extra lapel microphones in case our officients needed them. Edward’s patience, professionalism, and creativity make him the ideal person to work with. He coordinated directly with our Day-of Coordinator to handle all logistics, so my husband and I never had to worry about the ceremony run-of-show. He even arrived early to reserve our ceremony spot on the pier! The AV equipment he brought worked perfectly: despite the city noise around us, every guest could hear him clearly, and his music set the fun, romantic atmosphere we had envisioned. Edward went above and beyond in every possible way and we are so grateful, it truly meant the world to us.

alika c

Dr. Edward Hardy played at our wedding ceremony and cocktail hour. We knew we wanted a unique live music experience for our guests, and Edward was that and more. His professional...

ism, positivity, and love for his craft came through from our first interaction, and I knew we had to have him play at our wedding. Throughout the planning process he was so easy to work with, so humble, no stress. He was able to get the music for every song we requested. And at the wedding, he blew our guests away with his sound—my family continues to talk about our amazing violinist! Thank you, Edward, for your beautiful performance!! We highly, highly recommend Edward—he went above and beyond to make the day unforgettable.

Linda T

Edward Hardy performed for us at our Ceremony and Cocktail hours. We are so glad we booked him for both! His performances were a highlight of the wedding-- with children and adults...

dancing and singing to familiar songs. We received so many compliments for the set list. Your music helped make this day unforgettable and you and your tunes will hold a special place in our heart. Thank you so much Edward!

Jay

We heard Edward Hardy perform at a bridal expo and he was amazing! We immediately knew we wanted to book him

Katherine Q

My fiancée and I attended The Great Bridal Expo in NYC, and were blown away by Dr. Edward Hardy’s performance. He’s very talented and you can see how much he loves to play the viol...

in. He has great charisma and energy and we look forward to having him at our wedding.

Amanda A

Dr. Hardy brought the perfect touch of elegance to our ceremony. His professionalism, timeliness, and flexibility made everything seamless. We couldn’t recommend him more!

Anneliese W

Wow, wow, wow! Dr. Hardy is a one-of-a-kind solo violinist! He performed at our cocktail hour, and it was like having a live soundtrack for the best day of our lives. His energy, s...

kill, and ability to read the room made every moment extra special. If you’re on the fence, just book him—you won’t regret it!

Matthew J

Edward was such a pleasure to work with. He took the time to understand our preferences and created a customized setlist that was perfect for our ceremony. His performance was flaw...

less, and our guests kept telling us how beautiful the music was. If you’re looking for someone who’s talented and reliable, Edward is the one!

Catalina E

Edward played at our wedding with 200 guests and it felt like a fairytale! The sound of his violin filled the space with so much warmth and beauty. We asked him for a special rendi...

tion of Celia Cruz’s “Tu Voz,” which wasn’t on his already extensive musical lists, and it was absolutely breathtaking and brought tears to our eyes as we walked down the aisle. We loved it and I can't thank you enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!

Leilani M

My husband and I contacted Dr. Hardy via The Knot, he responded within the hour, scheduled a consultation the very next morning, and we sent our deposit (in full) the following day...

. His enthusiasm, trustworthiness, care, and credibility are unmatched. On the day of our Central Park wedding, Edward performed at our ceremony, and we were absolutely blown away! It's just like his videos, but even better! And when he says "one-man band," he truly means it. Edward’s entire audio setup took about 10 minutes, and he even tested a few songs for sound levels. He also brought an extra microphone, which we desperately needed when the wedding officiant’s microphone stopped working—what a lifesaver! His performance of "Bittersweet Symphony" as I walked down the aisle was breathtaking, and the music during the ceremony was absolutely perfect. Our guests couldn’t stop raving about how amazing the music was, and they kept making requests, which Edward graciously played—especially for my mother. Edward, you truly made our ceremony feel so special, and we can’t thank you enough. Merry Christmas!!

Christopher H

We had Dr. Hardy perform during our cocktail hour, and it was hands down the best decision we made! His diverse song selection catered to all of our tastes—ranging from my parents'...

favorite rock classics to our love for both old and new hip-hop. Edward truly envisioned and brought to life an incredible performance that perfectly suited our event. We’re still getting compliments about his violin playing, and we will absolutely hire him again for future family functions. Highly recommend!

Patrick S

Dr. Hardy's performance was everything we dreamed of and more! His music made our ceremony feel even more elegant and personal, and the way he played our first dance song, ‘Careles...

s Whisper,’ had us both in tears, hot, and laughing the entire time! Edward’s attention to detail and ability to create an emotional connection through his music made our wedding extremely special and we couldn't be more grateful. Thank you so much, Dr. Hardy, for the treasured memories!

Connor M

Edward performed during my proposal. From the moment I reached out to Edward until the time came to propose, Edward was punctual, communicative, and accommodating. His catalog of s...

ongs that he can play was far deeper than any other violinist I spoke to. Edward is a true professional and incredible performer. We are so lucky and grateful to have been able to share such a special memory with him.

Michaela A

Edward W. Hardy is an unforgettable part of our wedding! Walking in to hearing you play was magical!!! We are still getting compliments about how beautiful the music was and I coul...

d not have been happier seeing everyone sing and dance to your music. Thank you for sharing your talents with us!!!

Danica S

My wife and I hire Edward to play at our wedding because the venue didn't allow amplified sound. As someone who is obsessed with music it was really important to have that as part ...

of our special day AND to find someone who played music my wife and I grew up with. Edward was the perfect fit. He has a song list of classical music and popular pop songs, but he also has R&B, soul, and hip-hop which better aligns with the music we were seeking. He was great both during the planning process (timely responses, calling and reaching out if he felt you might need a little extra support) and on the day of. Our family loved the music he played and gave a lot of compliments! I'd definitely recommend Edward to others. He's professional, talented, and overall a good person.

Vik S

We booked Edward for our cocktail hour a month before our wedding at The Capitale in NYC and couldn't have been more impressed! Before we made our entrance, me and Melissa were sta...

nding by the doors just listening to his amazing music! Edward, thank you so much for sharing your music with all of us!

Will Z

Just a absolute pleasure to work with, Eddie is an energetic, appreciative, patient and amazingly talented violinist. He’s not a “nice to have” he’s a necessity for your wedding. C...

haconne was performed beautifully. Thank you Eddie!

Kaytia K

Edward was amazing. Incredible communicative throughout the entire planning process and accommodating. We got so many compliments on his music from all different guests. Couldn't r...

ecommend him enough.

Alexander B

Edward was amazing! We got to select every part of our day and he spent time with us before to walk through our music selections. I wish I could of been able to enjoy him more. If ...

your in the Colorado area and what a violinist to play your at your wedding Edward is the man!

Lily N

Edward was fantastic to work with, played beautiful music, and made our lives easy on the day of our wedding! He was very respectful of our preferences in terms of song selection. ...

He was also generous with his time when he was not playing — answering questions and talking with our friends and family who were very complimentary as well. We are very happy he could play for us and our guests!

Izzy S

It was AMAZING to work with Edward! He is a down-to-earth guy and was knowledgeable about other aspects of our wedding outside his participation. He also gave us an extensive list ...

of his songs that has everything you can imagine, and we choose what we’d want to hear. We had Edward play songs by the Beatles, Bill Withers, Elton John, Queen, The Postal Service, Carlos Santana, Bob Marley, and Lil Nas, to name a few, and all of our guests complimented how much they loved the music. They couldn’t believe an actual violinist was performing all of these songs for them (and I even heard he took requests during the cocktail hour!). If I ever renew my vows, I will hire Edward again. 1000% recommend!

Melanie M

Edward, thank you so much for everything. Our guests were so impressed with your talent. You made our special day so memorable. Your professionalism, communication and overall cust...

omer service was outstanding and we are so thankful.

Kristina & Philipp F

Thank you for making our special day so memorable!

Crystal E

Thank you Edward for gracing our wedding with your talent! You went above and beyond our expectations and made our wedding so much more special. Truly appreciate you.

Jenny Beth S

Edward and the musicians were amazing! Edward was so patient and kind when I was asking for specifics regarding the processional and other elements in our ceremony. Everyone was bl...

own away. Thank you so much!

Jason W

Our wedding that took place on November 14, 2020 was anything than originally planned. Edward was part of our original vision prior to dealing with the global pandemic. At a time w...

hen everything was stressful, he supported us switching venues and coming up with an intimate ceremony and cocktail hour. As we had several restrictions, guidelines and safety measures in place he arrived on time, with the highest level of professionalism and maintained all protocols in place. The musical choices were flawless including renditions of “All you need is love” by The Beatles and “Wonderful Tonight” by Eric Clapton for us in a beautiful outdoor ceremony. Having the element of a violinist will bring tears to each and every guest and bring a level of elegance you could only dream about. Edward is by far the best in the business and his level of talent is like no other. I promise from the initial conversations to the actual event will be a flawless experience with one of the most knowledgeable musicians in the business and an event everyone will be talking about for years to come. Whether a 300-person wedding or a 30-person outdoor event, Edward will deliver each and every time and there is only one choice for a violinist. We can’t thank you enough for making our wedding day one for the books!

Emily-Maxine B

Edward, thank you so much for making my wedding a truly unique experience. Our family and guests were so impressed! We love the way you play and pull at our heartstrings. Thank you...

again for being so accommodating with our crazy music selections. I can't wait to (officially) call you Dr. Hardy! God bless you, young man. Stay well.

Service area & Contact info

Travel area: No travel restrictions

Additional charges may apply

(646) 280-8157

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Edward W. Hardy

Dr. Edward W. Hardy

Owner

Typically responds within 24h

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Edward W. Hardy

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