Future Students Faculty Edward Yourk

Faculty - Performing Arts & Worship

Mr. Edward Yourk

Adjunct Guitar Instructor

Email: Edward.Yourk@prairie.edu

Phone: 403.443.5511

Education

Edward Yourk began private guitar lessons at the age of 9 with Al Kutz in Saskatoon Saskatchewan. He has also studied with 4 time East Coast Music Award guitarist, Mo Brown and classical guitarist Ralph Meyer at Mount Royal College in Calgary Alberta. 

From 1980 - 90 he studied Music Business, Film Making, TV Broadcasting, Copywriting for Radio and Television Advertising at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, where he also trained in audio engineering and producing.

Background

Ed's great interest in roots music of the Canadian Prairies has led to working as a teacher/performer at the British Columbia Bluegrass Workshop. Since traditional acoustic music has a huge potential for bridging the age and style gap in contemporary Christian Church services, bluegrass music has beocome a major area of his personal research and development. He expresses his peronal vicsion statement: "Spilling out my life for Christ's sake and the furtherance of the gospel using this instrument of my life-long passion is like a dream come true. For me, the epitome of martyrdom would be to die for the gospel of Jesus Christ with my guitar in my hands, praise on my lips and worship pouring out of my heart."

Involvement at Prairie

The joy and crown of Ed's life is his wife named Jennifer and his three children Bonnie (now married to Brent Bylsma), Amber-Lynn and Jason. He performs in concerts and music festivals and most recently was involved in the community centennial production "When We Came West." Unearthing roots bluegrass songs from the 1930's and transcribing them for performance is a main source of repertory for Prairie's Bluegrass Ensemble, which he directs.

His involvement with the recently formed vintage bluegrass band "The Bluegrass Orphans," with his daughter Amber-Lynn, has provided a great source of extra-curricular and community invovlement, as well as an opportunity to fulfill his performance goals.

Student advising with his wife Jennifer and periodic involvement in morning chapel provide excellent involvement with students outside the Performing Arts & Worship Department.

2007/2008 Courses

MU 102 Bluegrass Ensemble

MU 171-471 Private Guitar

Connie Canfield

Craig Learmont

Dan Callaway

Ingrid Thornton

James Janzen

Jamie Hillman

Kathy Covert

Raymond Olson

Van D.C. Williams

Vernon Charter

 

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