BETH HIGHAM -EDWARDS
Percussionist
Beth Higham-Edwards is a London-based percussionist. Contemporary music, theatre, and chamber music are her specialisms. Skills include tuned percussion, hand percussion, bodhran, timpani, drum kit and orchestral percussion. Beth is the co-recipient of the RPS ABO Salomon Prize 2021, and is on the board of trustees with the National Children's Orchestra
Recent theatre credits include; The Mirror and the Light (West End for RSC), Inala (West End and international tour), Amadeus, Common, and Twelfth Night (dep) at The National Theatre and The Tempest, King Lear, Measure for Measure, Macbeth, Henry V (dep), Othello and Words of Peace at Shakespeare’s Globe. Beth was Musical Director on the Tempest and deputy MD on King Lear, Macbeth and Othello.
As a recording session artist, Beth has recorded for: sample library Orchestral Tools, composer Richard Harvey/West One Music Group, BBC Radio 4 production of Mother Courage, the RSC's production of The Mirror and the Light, a film version of La Boheme (for which she was also the orchestral fixer), mercury prize winning band Alt J, Cheryl Frances-Hoad for Champs Hill Records and Charlotte Harding for Nonclassical.
Beth has performed live with bands including Alterbridge, Bring Me the Horizon, Architects, Blanco White (synths, BV, and percussion) and Fionn Regan. Beth has recently worked with the BBC Singers, Paraorchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, and the London Contemporary Orchestra.
Beth is a founding member of the percussion group Beaten Track Ensemble where she performed to critical acclaim in the Tate Modern’s Alexander Calder exhibition Performing Sculpture. She appeared on BBC Radio 3 In Tune and Music Matters with the group. They have performed three times at the Wigmore Hall for their learning events in 2020-2022.
Beth trained for a Masters at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and for an undergraduate in Music (performance and composition) at the University of Birmingham.
Beth co-created and performed in Daughters of the Sun in Autumn 2018 at Camden People's Theatre. Beth contributed ideas towards the original script, composed the score, arranged songs and performed in a speaking role as well as a musician.
'Edwards’ musicality brought a great lift to the production. Her utilisation of a variety of instruments throughout the play heightened the tension, working in cohesion with Brewer’s address. The musician’s speech to the audience, without script, was particularly moving. Her kind and warming approach encouraged each individual to really use their own imagination explore their connection to and relationship with music.' - Jessica Battison for North West End