About Eric

Eric Fricke is a concert organist, pianist, improviser, and collaborative musician.  He has appeared on the national stage as an organist since 2007, with notable appearances at Entertainment Gathering 2008 (later broadcast on TEDTalks) and on NPR’s From The Top. Eric’s original organ music is featured in two films by Nadine Sures, Like an Idealist (2018) and So Far Way (2019).

 Eric is the Director of Music and Organist at First Congregational United Church of Christ, in Asheville, NC. An active collaborative musician, Eric works as an accompanist at University of North Carolina Asheville and performs extensively with soloists and ensembles in the Western North Carolina region, such as the Asheville Symphony Chorus and Asheville Choral Society. As an improviser, Eric was the featured musician with Stewart/Owen Contemporary Dance Company in fully improvised music and dance performances.

While living in Santa Fe, NM for many years, Eric was the Principal Organist of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi in Santa Fe, NM and organist for the Santa Fe Symphony. With the combined choirs of the archdiocese, Eric performed in Rutter’s Mass of the Children at Carnegie Hall. Eric was the Assistant Director and Accompanist of the multi-time All-State Champion Choir, the St. Michael’s High School Choral Arts Society. As a pianist, Eric performed with the Santa Fe Opera for their 2017 production of Stephen Paulus’ Shoes for the Santo Niño. 

Eric began his musical studies at the age of 5. He studied organ with Cameron Carpenter and Lew Williams, piano with celebrated ballet pianist Miles Fusco, and voice with Joan Jacobowsky, Professor Emerita of Salem College.  He holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts from St. John’s College of Santa Fe, NM, and a Graduate Certificate in Injury-Preventive Keyboard Technique from Salem College. He has taught piano and voice for over a decade in his private studio and at numerous schools and musical organizations.