Evelyn Eby Bedford was born in Saskatchewan in 1909, and while still an infant, moved with her parents to Saskatoon where, as a young child, she began piano lessons. At 13 she began studying with the legendary Lyell Gustin, who had been a pupil of Jeanette Durno in Chicago. Durno had been a pupil of Leschetizky, who had been a pupil of Czerny, and Czerny, in turn, had been a pupil of Beethoven. "So we would say we were in a direct line from Beethoven," smiled Evelyn in a 1985 interview with Hugh Fraser of the Hamilton Spectator. The "we" were herself and Reginald Bedford who had become a student of Mr. Gustin that same year. Evelyn Eby and Reginald Bedford were destined to become a fine two-piano duo that performed internationally, and in 1948, husband and wife.
Evelyn passed her ATCM exam at the age of 13 and began teaching piano at the age of 14. She went on to win scholarships enabling her to study in Chicago with the previously-mentioned Jeanette Durno, student of Theodore Leschetizky, teacher of many of the greatest pianists of the Golden Age of the Piano, and Josef Lhevinne, the renowned Russian pianist, also in Chicago at that time.
After returning to Saskatoon, Evelyn became widely known as a solo pianist, radio performer and accompanist. Reginald Bedford was in Saskatoon as well where he had established a reputation as a performer and teacher. It was he who suggested that they play together as a duo. Evelyn agreed, and they became the Eby-Bedford duo, giving concerts in Canada from coast to coast.
In 1938 they made their American debut at the Studebaker Theatre in Chicago, to wide acclaim. "We didn't deserve it, but we were thrilled," said Evelyn of the notices. "But we were born years too soon. You couldn't make a living on the concert stage then," so teaching soon began to weave itself into the concretizing, first in Halifax, where Reginald became head of the Halifax Conservatory, then in Hamilton where he became principal of the Royal College in 1944, and where Evelyn also came to teach.
In 1945 the Eby-Bedford duo made their debut with the Toronto Symphony and gave numerous radio recitals, including a weekly series on CBC in the years 1945-1946. New York's Town Hall in 1949, Eaton's Auditorium in 1954 and London's Wigmore Hall in 1956 were highlights that brought much critical acclaim.
Evelyn and Reginald were married in 1948 and the Reginald Bedford Studios set up. As time went on the Studios expanded and grew larger in their lives and in the lives of the music community of Hamilton. Teaching and participation in music associations including ORMTA changed the focus of their music careers; now they were preparing students for life with music as a career or for their personal enjoyment in playing the piano.
Evelyn has done this for many years. She has taught her students to play the piano, and she has given them, and all of us who have had the privilege of knowing her, the wonderful legacy of a love of music. May beautiful music accompany her always.
Best Wishes from your friends and colleagues of ORMTA
