Erin's love of the performing arts has taken her from New York to Nashville, and now to Los Angeles where she currently resides. She makes up half of the musical group Life On Eris with her husband, actor/musician Chris Carmack. Together they will release their first self-written and self-produced EP ‘STONEWALL’ on October 23rd, and have already been featured musicians on the prime time drama Grey’s Anatomy.
Erin is both an instrumentalist and performer, professionally trained as a concert violinist, touring fiddler, classical/pop vocalist, songwriter and actress. Her versatility allows her to contribute in all types of music communities and her ability to play and sing spot on harmonies has propelled her status in the music world to a highly in-demand, live performance musician.
She began playing violin at age three and continued her classical studies through college. But her training and influences span over many genres including classical, bluegrass, jazz and baroque styles. At an early age she discovered her love of fiddling and the freedom of performing and soon made the stage her second home. She spent her entire childhood and teenage years giving concerts (in between doing homework) in which her Dad, a guitarist, accompanied her. She also began performing as a child actress (or pit violinist) at the Forestburgh Playhouse, New York State’s oldest professional summer theater. She spent her summers there working as an actress and musician from the age of 10 to the age of 22.
With a deep-rooted love of music and performance, Erin strives to create her own niche. She shines whether in the concert arena, symphony space, film/tv set, or recording studio. She spent 5 years performing as the fiddler/background singer for James Dolan’s band JD and the Straight Shot and has played venues such as Madison Square Garden, opening for super groups like the Eagles, Chicago, the Doobie Brothers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Jewel and many more. She also co-wrote and performed on several studio albums with the Straight Shot. She has done tours with Martina McBride, Trace Adkins, Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Sam Palladio, and Katie Armiger playing fiddle, mandolin, acoustic guitar and singing background vocals. Additionally she has played back-up for artists including Rod Stewart, Rascal Flatts, Kelly Clarkson, Lady A, Keith Urban, Jennifer Nettles, Il Divo Amy Grant, Vince Gill, Scotty McCreery, Lauren Alaina among others .
Erin has filmed for music videos, commercials, and has even had the opportunity to play the part of Hayden Panettierre's back-up singer in abc's TV/Music Drama, “Nashville”. Look for her in season 1 and 2.
In the past, Erin has also created and fronted her own band, in which she wrote, arranged, and performed (vocals/fiddle) original music and covers within more intimate settings in New York City. She has also done studio recordings for Broadway casts, the CMA Awards, various other contractors, producers and artists.
After graduating high school as Valedictorian in 2006, Erin attended Stony Brook University and spent her college years immersed in classical music, festivals and performing in orchestral concerts. She was concertmaster for 3 years with the Stony Brook University Orchestra, as well as for the final performance of National Orchestral Institute’s 2009 summer season. She participated in Jazz, Baroque, and Quartet ensembles, contributing to her versatility as a musician and instrumentalist. She studied with such renown pedagogues as Phil Setzer (from the Emerson Quartet) and Soovin Kim. In 2010 she graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s in Music. She went on to complete a year of graduate school (also in classical violin performance) but took a leave of absence to move to Tennessee.
She has more recently discovered her newfound love of songwriting, (inspired by the legends she was so lucky to hear and meet every day in Nashville) and continues to develop as a songwriter with every new encounter life unfolds.
No matter her pathway, Erin is sure of one thing; her ultimate goal is to perform and bring happiness to others through her music. Whether it be on stage at Madison Square Garden, or in an intimate music venue on Bleeker Street, she’s certain her home will always be on the stage.