Mr. Edward Harper

British-American cellist and educator Ed Harper received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Houston, where he studied with Anthony Kitai of the Houston Symphony. He also holds a Master of Music Degree from the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Sheffield. Ed is currently principal cellist of the Baytown Symphony Orchestra, and sectional coach for Houston Youth Symphony.

Ed has taught internationally at Stamford American International School in Singapore, delivering secondary school music instruction as part of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program (IB MYP). He also helped develop the school orchestral programs and string ensembles, arranged and directed whole school musical productions, and founded an after-school Suzuki strings program for students aged 5-7.

More recently, Ed has taught undergraduate music theory and aural skills classes at the University of Houston. In his teaching he aims to integrate practical skills, music theory literacy, ear training, and sight reading into a holistic instructional approach designed to develop the whole musician. Positivity, kindness, and excellence—foundational principles of the Suzuki philosophy—are the basis for this goal. Now based in Houston, Texas, Ed is co-owner and cello instructor for H-Town Strings, a private studio of 45 violinists and cellists studying the Suzuki method.