Bio

Eric Oliver has been playing the trumpet for over ten years, starting in the sixth grade. He went to Jackson Middle School, where he began his training under Betsy Van Dyke. Eric attended the Hummingbird Music Camp in the summer during middle school. Private instruction during middle school was from Dennis Heeter and Kent Erickson. He attended high school at Manzano High School, where Bruce Kroken (1945-2004) was the band director. During high school Eric studied privately with Bob Dorer and Doug Carlsen, both with the Minnesota Orchestra.

During the summer of 1999, Eric attended the prestigious Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, where he studied with Mike Davison and Marshall Scott.

From 1999 up to the present Eric has studied classical trumpet with Jeff Piper, Professor of Trumpet at the University of New Mexico. Since 2000 Eric has studied jazz at the University of New Mexico with former Maynard Ferguson Bari Sax player Glenn Kostur. In addition, he has studied with several prominent lead trumpet players throughout the nation including Danny Falcone, formerly with Tom Jones and Paul Anka; and Roger Ingram, lead trumpet player for Harry Connick, Jr., and former lead trumpet player for Maynard Ferguson and Woody Herman.

Eric currently studies lead trumpet with Wayne Bergeron, Los Angeles studio player and lead player for Gordon Goodwin's Big Phat Band, and lead player for countless other bands, including a stint with Maynard Ferguson. Eric is also working towards a degree in Jazz Studies from the University of New Mexico.