Yamaha Performing Artist Eric Berlin has made the music of our time the focus of his career. As a soloist, he has commissioned, premiered and recorded new works for trumpet from some of today’s most important composers, including Christopher Rouse, George Tsontakis, Stephen Paulus, Joseph Turrin, Anthony Plog, Eric Ewazen, and James Stephenson. Much of this work has been documented on his solo releases on MSR Classics; End of the Matter, Calls and Echoes, Fantastique, and Along the Continuum with UMass colleagues Greg Spiridopoulous on trombone and Ludmila Krasin on piano. Fantastique documents works Berlin commissioned for trumpet and wind ensemble including Stephen Paulus’ Concerto for Two Trumpets, which received a Grammy Nomination in 2014 for Best Contemporary Classical Composition.
Berlin’s latest release is Christopher Rouse’s monumental Heimdall’s Trumpet with the Albany Symphony Orchestra on Albany Records. Of this release, the American Record Guide says “Trumpeter Eric Berlin gives a great performance. The concerto is fiendishly difficult for soloist and orchestra and […] the performances are convincing and breathtaking.” In March 2012 Mr. Berlin premiered and recorded True Colors for Trumpet and Orchestra by George Tsontakis which was commissioned for him by the Albany Symphony Orchestra. This release on NAXOS was named a Top Ten Classical Recording of 2017 by National Public Radio.
As Principal Trumpet of the multiple-Grammy Award-winning Albany Symphony Orchestra since 1998, Berlin can be heard on over two dozen acclaimed recordings on Albany and NAXOS. He held the same position with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra from 2005-2017 and is a member of the Boston Modern Orchestra Project, where he can be heard on over 80 recordings by living American composers. Since 2006, he has spent his summers performing as Assistant Principal Trumpet of the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder, CO. In addition to his regular positions, he has performed most notably with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and St. Louis Symphony.
Berlin served two terms as a member of the Board of Directors of the International Trumpet Guild and hosted the 2007 ITG Annual Conference. He has given recitals and masterclasses worldwide, wrote a recurring column in The Brass Herald until it ceased publication, and is extraordinarily proud of over one hundred alumni working as performers and teachers around the country and beyond. A testament to his stature in his field was his service as a finals judge in the 2018 ARD International Music Competition in Munich.
A native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Berlin attended the New England Conservatory of Music, where he was a student of Charles Schlueter, former Principal Trumpet of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Robert Nagel of the New York Brass Quintet. He has also studied extensively with Vincent Penzarella of the New York Philharmonic, Tom Rolfs of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and Frank Kaderabek, former Principal Trumpet of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
Photo Credit: Bob Malone