ERIC HUNTER
Eric Hunter is a versatile pianist, composer, and educator based in New York City. He has performed across the United States and Canada at venues including Carnegie Hall and Walt Disney Concert Hall, and has performed concertos with the Greenwich, University of Rochester, and University of Southern California Symphony Orchestras. In 2008 he played an all-Liszt recital at the home of the renowned Golden-era pianist Earl Wild at his invitation. Mr. Hunter is an experienced chamber musician and has collaborated with violinists Philippe Graffin and Barry Shiffman, horn player Eric Ruske, baritone Peter Lightfoot, soprano Jennifer Behnke, and the Penderecki Quartet, among others. He served as staff accompanist at the Banff Centre for the Arts from 2007-2008.
In addition to his performing credentials, Mr. Hunter is a dedicated teacher and holds a Master of Education degree from Teachers College at Columbia University. He has given lecture recitals on the works of Liszt, Hindemith, Medtner, and Shostakovich, and lectured at New York University on the works of 20th century American composers. He is committed to community outreach, and has worked as a music therapy consultant at the Austen Riggs Center for Mental Health in Stockbridge, MA., and at VISIONS at Selis Manor in Manhattan. Currently he volunteers as a performer and consultant with Sacred Music New York, an organization dedicated to fostering social change through music.
In recent years Mr. Hunter has turned his attention to composition, where he was a prizewinner in the 2012 operamissionCabaret Night songwriting competition. The following year he composed the music for the multimedia piece Connectioncommissioned by Arts on Site. He completed studies at Dubspot in electronic music and music production under the guidance of MING, and currently studies film scoring with Ryan Leach. Samples of his works can be heard at https://soundcloud.com/eh-scratch-disk.
Mr. Hunter has been a prizewinner in competitions sponsored by the MTNA, MTAC, Jefferson Symphony Orchestra in Denver, University of Rochester and Southern California Symphony Orchestras, and the Los Angeles Liszt Competition. He received a B.A. in Music from the University of Rochester, where he was awarded the Ward Woodbury prize for outstanding achievement and leadership, and an M.M. and Graduate Certificate in piano performance from the University of Southern California, where he studied with Bernadene Blaha and Kevin Fitz-Gerald. He currently maintains a studio of private piano and composition students in Manhattan.
Website: http://www.erichuntermusicstudio.com/