“You play both accurately and in a quite refined way which I like immensely.”

- Áskell Másson, Composer

Described as "unstoppable,”

Eric Willie has a varied career as an international soloist and teacher.

Having performed on three continents, Eric has presented solo performances throughout the United States, Russia, Brasil, and Colombia. He has performed as soloist with the Tamborimba Ensamble in Cali, Colombia; and conducted Edgard Varese’s “Ionisation” at the III Encontro Percussivo in Recife, Pernambuco Brasil. In the United States, Eric has performed or conducted at twelve Percussive Arts Society’s International Conventions (PASIC), presented at the Midwest Clinic, as well as several state days of percussion and music educator conventions.

A Fulbright Scholar, Eric has studied Maracatu Nações in Recife, Pernambuco Brasil. In the spring of 2022, he lived in Recife to continue his study of Maracatu as well as perform with Grupo Percussivo Quebra Baque in Carnaval (Recife and Olinda). In addition, he served as a Regency Professor at the Universidade Federal de Pernambuco alongside Professor Antonio José do Rego Barreto Filho, and assisted with the direction of IV Encontro Percussivo.

Active within the Percussive Arts Society (PAS), Eric was recently voted to serve on the PAS Board of Advisors. Previously, he served as Chair of the International Percussion Ensemble Committee, President of the Tennessee Chapter, as a New Literature and Recordings Reviewer for Percussive Notes journal. Eric now serves as Vice President for the North Carolina Chapter of the Society. His percussion ensembles have been named winners of the 2015 and 2020 PAS International Percussion Ensemble Competition.

In addition to his talents as a classical percussionist, Eric is known for his marching percussion arranging and teaching experience. He has served on staff with the Cavaliers Drum and Bugle Corps, served as a Percussion Consultant with the Phantom Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps (2012-2013), and instructor and/or arranger for the Spirit, Southwind, Carolina Crown, and the Madison Scouts drum and bugle corps. He has also instructed for the University of North Texas "A" Line, Music City Mystique, and as Faculty for the Music for All World Percussion Symposium.

His solos and books have been published by Musicon Publications, Ox and Lamb, TapSpace, and Row-Loff. With the latter, his coauthored All-Inclusive Audition Etudes book, the book has been adopted for use by the North Carolina and Tennessee Music Educator's Associations. He recently co-authored the book Rehearsing the Concert and Marching Percussion Ensemble by Meredith Music, compiled by James Campbell. This book will be released at PASIC 2022 in Indianapolis, IN USA.

Currently, Eric serves as Professor of Percussion Studies at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, where he directs a comprehensive percussion program. In addition, he serves as Percussion Area Head, a member of the UNCG Faculty Senate, and Chair of the Faculty Council for the College of Visual and Performing Arts.

Eric and his wife, Rebecca (assistant concertmaster with the Winston-Salem Symphony), reside in Greensboro, NC, with their children Aiden and Elina.