Edgar Meyer b.24 November 1960, Tulsa, Oklahoma

A master instrumentalist and chameleon of styles, Edgar Meyer has established himself as a vibrant performer and an innovative composer in a variety of arenas from classical to bluegrass.  His virtuosity and musicianship inspired one critic to call him, "quite simply, the best bassist alive;" his concert repertoire includes commissions from a wide array of distinguished organizations.  He has composed pieces for violinist Hilary Hahn (Violin Concerto), the Emerson String Quartet (Quintet for Bass and String Quartet), the Minnesota Orchestra (Concerto for Double Bass and Orchestra No. 1), and the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, among others.   

Meyer energetically explores new musical territory, blending his own unique style with classical and folk traditions. His collaboration with Yo-Yo Ma and Mark O'Connor on the widely acclaimed Sony Classical disc Appalachia Waltz was immensely popular, soaring to the top of the charts for 16 weeks when it was released.  Meyer collaborated again with Yo-Yo Ma and Mark O'Connor on Appalachian Journey, an album of traditional and original music written and arranged by Mark O'Connor and Meyer; that album earned a Grammy Award for Best Classical Crossover Album.  

More recently, he played and recorded with violinist Joshua Bell and legendary bluegrass musicians Sam Bush and Mike Marshall. The group made its New York debut at the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center following an extensive North American tour. Their album Short Trip Home, released in Fall 1999, was nominated for a Grammy award in the category of Best Classical Crossover album and the group was subsequently invited to perform live at the 42nd annual Grammy Awards. Shortly before this collaboration, Meyer was involved in an inventive trio project with Béla Fleck on banjo and Mike Marshall on mandolin, performing original compositions marrying bluegrass, classical and other traditional styles. In October 1997, the Fleck/Marshall/Meyer trio opened the 1997-98 season of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center in conjunction with the release of their Sony disc, Uncommon Ritual.  

As soloist/composer, Meyer premiered his first bass concerto in 1993 with Edo de Waart and the Minnesota Orchestra, and his second in 2003 with the Iris Chamber Orchestra under Michael Stern.  He has performed his Double Concerto for Bass and Cello (1995) with such gifted cellists as Yo-Yo Ma and Carter Brey.  His Concerto for Double Bass and Banjo, written in collaboration with Béla Fleck, made its debut in November 2003 with the Nashville Symphony Orchestra under Kenneth Schermerhorn.

Meyer began studying bass at the age of five under the instruction of his father, and continued further to study with Stuart Sankey. He is the winner of numerous competitions.  In 1994 he became the only bassist to receive the Avery Fisher Career Grant and in 2000 became the only bassist to receive the Avery Fisher Prize.  His most prestigious honor to date came in 2002, when he was awarded a MacArthur Foundation 'Genius' fellowship.  The program recognizes "individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits."     

July 2004