Bedford and Eby

Bedford and Eby. Duo pianists and teachers: Reginald Bedford (b London, Ont, 13 Dec 1909, d Hamilton, Ont, 9 Dec 1985; ATCM 1924) and Evelyn Eby (b Outlook, near Saskatoon, 12 May 1909, d Hamilton 19 May 2012; ATCM 1923). Both were pupils of Lyell Gustin in Saskatoon; Bedford also studied in the USA with Percy Grainger, Edwin Hughes, Alfred Madeley Richardson, and Carl Friedberg and on scholarship at the American Cons at Fontainebleau, France, with Robert Casadesus; and Eby on scholarships in the USA with Jeannette Durno and Josef Lhévinne. They made their debut as a team in 1938 in Chicago. Their career included an appearance with the TSO in 1945, weekly recitals 1945-6 on CBC radio, and concerts in New York at Town Hall in 1949 and in London at Wigmore Hall in 1956. They were married in 1948. After their debut recital at Eaton Auditorium Saturday Night noted (5 Nov 1944): 'They have a broad and beautiful tone, superb execution; their interpretations are brilliant, thoughtful and imbued with musical feeling'. Heavy teaching commitments curtailed their public performances and they gave their last recital on 20 Sep 1979 for the Duet Club of Hamilton at First Place.

Bedford was an examiner 1940-2 for the WBM and briefly was head of the piano department at the Halifax Cons (Maritime Conservatory of Music) and organist at All Saints Cathedral, Halifax, prior to serving 1944-8 as principal of the Hamilton Cons (RHCM). He first examined for the TCM (RCMT) in 1944. In 1948 he and Eby opened the Reginald Bedford Piano Studios in Hamilton. He began teaching also at the Ontario Ladies' College, Whitby, in 1968 and at McMaster University in 1972. His pupils have included Bob Hahn, Gordon Hancock, Elaine Keillor, and Marjan Mozetich. Bedford was president 1931-3, and 1939-41 of the Musical Art Club of Saskatoon, 1957-9 of the ORMTA and 1959-63 of the CFMTA. Eby was president of the Musical Art Club 1937-9 and in 1990 continued to teach at the Bedford Studio. She was a member of the Hamilton Branch of the ORMTA until her death at 104. The bass James Eby is her brother. The Bedford scholarship and medal has been awarded annually in a piano competition open to students or future students at McMaster University. In 2011, the 23rd Reginald Bedford Piano scholarship for music students offered a prize of $1,000.

Author Iris French, Elaine Keillor

Bibliography

'Prairie pianistic prodigy,' Maclean's, vol 41, 1 Jan 1928

Fraser, Hugh. 'Bedford leaves vast musical legacy,' CFMTA Newsletter, vol 39, Winter 1986

"Evelyn Eby Bedford Celebrates Her 100th Birthday," ORMTA Newsletter, Hamilton-Halton Branch 2009

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