From an early age, Edmund Dawe knew that music would be his life’s work. After seven years of what he describes as recreational piano, his serious studies began at fourteen with Andreas Barban in St. John’s, Newfoundland. Eight years later, he graduated from Memorial University with Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education degrees, receiving the University Medal for Music. During this period, he was deeply influenced by pianists Neil van Allen and Maureen Volk, and distinguished himself as a recipient of multiple scholarships and the Senior Rose Bowl at the St. John’s Kiwanis Music Festival. Selected for an external semester at City University and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, UK, Edmund studied with James Gibb and found lasting inspiration in hearing some of the world’s greatest classical musicians in concert.
He went on to complete a Master of Music in Piano Performance at Western University, studying with Ronald Turini, pupil of the legendary Vladimir Horowitz. He later earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the University of British Columbia under Robert Silverman, becoming the first Memorial University music graduate to earn a doctorate and one of the first two pianists to complete the DMA program at UBC. At both Western and UBC, he was awarded major graduate scholarships.
That same year, Edmund was selected internationally for a summer program in France with renowned pianist Cécile Ousset, later continuing private study with her. His education, shaped by teachers from diverse traditions, formed the foundation of his lifelong research interest: international perspectives on the pianist’s art. His scholarly work has taken him to the British Library in London, the Newberry Library in Chicago, the International Piano Archives in College Park, MD, the Juilliard Archives, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, and the Rachmaninoff Archives at the Library of Congress.
From the outset, Edmund’s vision was to combine performance with teaching. While still completing his doctoral degree, he began his academic career as a visiting assistant professor at Memorial University. This marked the beginning of more than three decades of teaching and leadership, during which his students went on to careers as performers, educators, scholars, arts administrators, and community leaders. His university appointments included Memorial University (1986–88), Laurentian University (1988–90), Mount Allison University (1990–2007), and the University of Manitoba (2007–2018).
Alongside teaching and administration, Edmund pursued an active performance career, praised for his technical command and artistic depth. He has appeared as soloist and collaborative pianist across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. His performances have been broadcast on CBC Radio, WQXR in New York, and WFMT in Chicago. La Scena Musicale described his playing as “sensitive, engaging and virtuoso.” Two of his recordings—one solo and one duo with pianist Lynn Johnson—were nominated for East Coast Music Awards. At Mount Allison, he twice received the Paul Paré Award for Excellence and co-founded the Atlantic Arts Trio, which toured internationally for over 15 years and commissioned numerous works from leading Canadian composers. His work was supported by research grants and awards from universities, provincial arts councils, the Canada Council, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, and F.A.C.T.O.R.
Edmund’s influence extended beyond his own students. He has adjudicated at over 30 Canadian music festivals, examined young pianists across Atlantic Canada, and served as a Juno Awards juror in the Classical category. A sought-after speaker, he has presented at local, national, and international conferences, including the Canadian Federation of Music Teachers’ Association, the World Piano Pedagogy Conference, and the Australian National Piano Pedagogy Conference.
At Mount Allison, Edmund’s leadership as Head of the Department of Music (1997–2003) strengthened the program through faculty appointments, facility upgrades, and renewal of the instrument inventory. In 2007, he was recruited through an international search to become Dean of the Faculty of Music at the University of Manitoba. During his tenure (2007–2018), he oversaw a period of significant growth, including the $75 million renovation and expansion of Taché Hall into state-of-the-art facilities, culminating in the construction of the Desautels Concert Hall.
Under his deanship, enrolment rose steadily, new programs were introduced—including the Bachelor of Jazz Studies and an innovative Bachelor of Music in Music Education—and faculty ranks expanded. He played a central role in securing transformative philanthropic support, including a $20 million gift from Marcel A. Desautels, a $1 million gift from the Asper Foundation establishing the Babs Asper Professorship in Jazz Performance, a $1 million gift from Dr. Bonnie Buhler for graduate scholarships, and a $2.5 million gift from Dr. Michael Nesbitt for the Desautels Concert Hall. During his leadership, endowments for student awards and faculty research grew from $2.1 million to $17.9 million, enabling 70% of students to receive scholarships and assistantships.
Described as a community builder, Edmund fostered collaborations with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Manitoba Opera, the WSO New Music Festival, the Manitoba Band Association, and the Manitoba Choral Association, creating unique opportunities for students and faculty. His support and presence at countless student and faculty performances became a hallmark of his leadership.
Upon retiring in 2018, Edmund was named Dean Emeritus of the University of Manitoba. Today, he devotes himself to performance, teaching, adjudication, lecturing, and continued research on international perspectives in piano pedagogy and performance. His podcast, For Piano Teachers, launched in 2021, now reaches listeners in over 100 countries. He also serves on the Board of Symphony New Brunswick.
Edmund and his wife, Karla—an organist and visual artist—reside in Alma, New Brunswick, at the entrance to Fundy National Park. Beyond their professional lives, they enjoy hiking, biking, and time with their three children, their spouses, and four grandchildren. Edmund also serves on the Board of Friends of Fundy, which works to enhance appreciation of the natural and cultural heritage of Fundy National Park and its surrounding communities.