BIOGRAPHY

Recognized by Modern Drummer Magazine in December 2015 as one of the “Finest Drum Instructors in the World” by the now late legendary drummer/educator Dom Famularo, Eric is a highly sought-after freelance drummer and educator based in Poughkeepsie, New York.

 

He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from the University of Connecticut and serves as a PVAC Music Applied Lesson Instructor of Percussion/Drum Set at Dutchess Community College (SUNY Dutchess). Over the past two decades, he has lived and performed in Connecticut, New York City, and the Hudson Valley, collaborating with an impressive roster of artists across jazz, rock, and Broadway. His performances have included work with Joseph Wooten (The Steve Miller Band), Victor Wooten (Béla Fleck and the Flecktones), Lindsay Mendez (Wicked), Jay Armstrong Johnson (On the Town), Kyle Barisich (Phantom of the Opera), Joe Piscopo (Saturday Night Live), Mark Small (Michael Bublé), Chris Vadala (Chuck Mangione), John Mosca (Village Vanguard Orchestra), Eric Alexander, Jimmy Greene, Brad Leali, Tony Desare, Miles Brown, Ken Faranda, Joe Bouchard (Blue Öyster Cult), Bobby MacDougal (John Hall Band), Tim Collins, the Chic Chiccetti Big Band, and Roni Ben-Hur. His college career included performances with jazz greats such as Dr. Billy Taylor, Joe Lovano, John Clayton, Claudio Roditi, Oliver Lake, Ron Blake, Dick Oatts, Dave Santoro, Andy Fusco, Walt Weiskopf, Jimmy Owens, and the late Victor Borge. He has also performed for former Presidents George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton, Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, and Quincy Jones.

 

As an accomplished musician, Eric has opened for major acts including Spyro Gyra, The Bret Michaels Band, Dave Mason, and Blue Öyster Cult. His versatility spans genres, and he is frequently found performing in musical theatre pits, jazz clubs, and with various big bands, combos, and rock groups across the country. His experience as a pit percussionist includes working professionally with Princess Cruise Lines.

 

During his time at UConn, Eric performed with wind ensembles, orchestras, and the UConn Pep Band, performing at major events such as the 1996 World Series (Yankee Stadium), an NFL halftime show in Buffalo, NY, and the 1999 NCAA Final Four and Championship Basketball Games. He was recognized as Connecticut’s #1 drum set performer in the 1994 All-State Jazz Ensemble. Additionally, he has served as a jazz-teaching assistant at Frederick Douglass Academy in New York City.

 

With over 30 years of teaching experience, Eric has worked with students of all ages, taught clinics, and led band camps throughout the Northeast. He is proud to endorse Precision Drums and is a member of the Sabian Education Network and D’Addario Education Collective (Evans Drumheads).