Biography | mysite

B i o g r a p h y

Originally from Caithness in the North Highlands, Erica began studying clarsach at the age of seven with Bill Taylor, and then clarinet aged eleven with Karen Anderson. Throughout her time in school, she performed locally on a regular basis with local groups and as a soloist; she also performed further afield with the Highland Region Youth Orchestra, the National Children's Orchestra of Scotland, and the National Scout and Guide Orchestra. In 2009 she was awarded the Runner-Up prize in the Highland Young Musician Competition.

In 2009, Erica began her studies on the BMus programme at Edinburgh Napier University, studying clarinet with Alison Waller. She also began her pedal harp studies at this time with Alina Bzhezhinska. She performed regularly with the university's Chamber Orchestra and Contemporary Ensemble, as well as solo and chamber performances. Erica also performed outside the university, including as part of St Andrew's and St George's Parish Church's Music and Meditation series, at weddings and events, and with Edinburgh University's music ensembles. In her final year, she was invited to perform Britten's A Ceremony of Carols with ENU's Chamber Choir, and as a soloist for Malcolm Arnold's Second Clarinet Concerto with ENU Chamber Orchestra. She graduated in 2013 with First Class Honours.

In 2013 she began studying for an MMus in Instrumental Performance at Birmingham Conservatoire with Sally Harrop, Mark O'Brien, Michael Harris and Jo Patton, and continued her harp studies with Catherine White. Whilst there she performed regularly with the conservatoire's ensembles on both instruments, and performed as a soloist in lunchtime concerts and at the conservatoire's Harp Day. She also performed regularly as a chamber musician, including with wind ensemble Forum Ventus. She graduated with Distinction in 2015.

In 2015, Erica also performed as a soloist for Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto alongside Catherine O'Rourke with the Highland Chamber Orchestra, and joined the National Youth Orchestra on their tour to China as principal bass clarinettist.

Erica has taken part in a diverse range of projects: she composed for and accompanied a reading by Kenneth Steven of his poem A Song Among the Stones on harp; performed as a soloist as part of the Future Blend Project; performed at the Spotted Dog's Sunday Classics Series; with STAG's choir in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival; with the Mahler Players in their Mahler in Miniature concert series; a NYOS Camerata collaboration with the Hebrides Ensemble; a jazz project with Mark Lockheart; and as part of the Bach to Baby concert series.

Erica is based in Birmingham, where she teaches and freelances; she performs regularly throughout the UK. She is principal harpist for the Mahler Players, and has also performed with other orchestras including the Chandos Symphony Orchestra and the Central England Camerata. She is harp, clarinet and recorder teacher for the RGS Worcester group of schools, harp teacher for Kings Hawford, a performer and administrator for the Future Blend Project, a member of the Ulmus Trio, and an editing consultant for Poppy Harp. She also undertakes a number of charitable and outreach projects; she has been a music leader with Quench Arts and MAC Makes Music, and has performed as part of The Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Trust Memorial Service and for Birmingham Children's Hospital's BCH Beats music festival; she also assists and delivers concerts for Rhythm Circle music holiday clubs.