Edward Bisha

Bisha, Edward

 Edward (Russell) Bisha. Cellist, b Louisville, Ky, 26 Aug 1927, naturalized Canadian 1973, d Toronto 4 May 1991. Edward Bisha studied 1947-9 at the Cincinnati Conservatory, 1950-4 at the Juilliard School with Felix Salmond and Bernard Greenhouse, and privately with Janos Starker. He won the Piatigorsky Award in 1949 and later was a member of the American Chamber Orchestra and the Harp Trio (New York) and gave solo recitals. He moved to Canada, where he served 1956-66 as principal of the Halifax Symphony Orchestra and 1956-67 as a member of the Halifax Trio (later Brandon University Trio). He taught 1966-8 at Brandon University and 1968-75 at the University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon campus), where he was a member 1969-71 of the Amati String Quartet and 1971-5 of the Canadian Arts Trio. He was a member 1975-6 of the National Arts Centre Orchestra. Between 1980 and 1985, Bisha worked in Halifax and Toronto; he played with the Canadian Opera Company and CJRT orchestras 1983-5. Edward Bisha continued teaching at the University of Saskatchewan 1985-91.

Edward Bisha was married to the violist Norma Lee Bisha.