Student's Bio
Eric Whitmer is a musician currently pursuing his Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance at Vanderbilt University under the instruction of Prof. JiHye Jung and Prof Lee Vinson. He serves as the section percussionist for the North State Symphony, where he gave his concerto debut in their 2018-2019 season. An avid performer of new music, Eric has commissioned and premiered works by Kristian de Leon, Madeline Merwin, Dan Langa, Hannah Boissoneault, Christine Araoka, Joe W. Moore III, and Calvin Hitchcock. Current projects include working with Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons as a studio assistant in sound art and with Southern California Marimba on their New Works Initiative where he will be premiering new works by BIPOC composers. As a researcher, Eric was recognized with a Littlejohn Research Fellowship for his research about the American Orchestra and its role and function in building community from inception to current practices. Besides his musical pursuits, Eric is an arts administrator having worked with organizations like Sō Percussion, the EADJ: Engine for Art Democracy and Justice, the North State Symphony, and the Redding Performing Arts Society. Currently, he is the Associate Director for Southern California Marimba and a board member for the North State Symphony.