Eric Burger is an arranger, composer, freelance musician and educator originally from Davis, California. He has earned Bachelor of Music degrees in both Trombone Performance and Music Education at California State University, Sacramento, and a Master of Arts degree in Music Performance in conducting at California State University, Fresno under Dr. Gary P. Gilroy. Previously he studied conducting under Dr. Donald Kendrick, Dr. Robert Halseth, and trombone with Dr. Paul Tanner, Dr. Ernie Hills, Don Staples, Frank Rosolino, and Jiggs Whigham.
Eric has professionally recorded or performed internationally in over 40 countries with jazz and pop ensembles, and has also appeared with symphonic orchestras in Sacramento, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Heidelberg & Köln Germany, and Seoul, Korea. His big band compositions and arrangements are used by ensembles around the world, and he is currently working on an expansive library for trombone or low brass ensembles and concert band. Eric recently reconstructed and published a lost trombone concerto by virtuoso F. A. Belcke, and is working on restoring additional early Romantic trombone works for publication.
Eric served for 21 years as a musician and enlisted ensemble leader with bands in the United States Army located in Colorado, Oklahoma, Germany and Korea. He became well known for putting together entertaining performing groups, and led highly active touring groups throughout Europe, Asia, western US and in Iraq, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for his service. His work and influence were instrumental in helping to change the Army Band’s training and recruitment protocols that have allowed the world’s largest musical organization to vastly improve performance quality, recruitment and effectiveness.
