Eric Nowlin

About Eric

Principal Violist of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Eric Nowlin has performed extensively throughout the United States as well as abroad. Nowlin's performance of Berlioz’ Harold in Italy with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and conductor Leonard Slatkin was described by Classical Source as "outstanding…his distinctive timbre and sovereign musicianship at one with Slatkin’s perfectly paced account… totally compelling."

Past accomplishments include receiving second prize in the Walter W. Naumburg Competition, first prize in the Irving Klein International String Competition; first prize in the Hellam Young Artists Competition; grand prize in the Naftzger Young Artists Competition; and winner of the Juilliard Viola Concerto Competition. Performances have included solo engagements with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Springfield Symphony in Missouri, Santa Cruz Symphony, Peninsula Symphony, and the Kumamoto Symphony in Japan, as well as recitals in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, and Mexico.

Nowlin was the violist of the Juno and Opus Award winning New Orford String Quartet for 10 years. Other chamber music activities have included participating in festivals such as the Marlboro Music Festival in Vermont and the Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia and also toured with Musicians from Marlboro and Musicians from Ravinia’s Steans Institute.

Nowlin was previously the Associate Principal viola in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and has served as guest principal viola with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

Nowlin is Assistant Professor of Viola at Michigan State University and has previously been Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto, as well as Instructor of Viola at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. He received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from The Juilliard School, as a student of Samuel Rhodes. Nowlin plays on a 1757 J.B. Guadagnini viola on generous loan from the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.

I endeavor to help students achieve their full potential as a musician, to explore all aspects of music and performance, and to love what they do. Allowing students to follow their musical interests and learn how to problem solve helps them to build confidence and trust in their abilities and skills.