Clipper Erickson, pianoforte

Hailed for his unique calling to connect people with their humanity through the
spiritual power of music, Clipper Erickson is passionate about sharing great less-
performed music with audiences worldwide. His artistry has won top international
prizes, and he has headlined programs with orchestras and performed to critical
acclaim in major concert halls. An avid and respected educator, Erickson also
delights in exploring under-represented musical works with listeners through
commentary in a question-and-answer format.
In 2015 he released My Cup Runneth Over – the Complete Piano Works of R.
Nathaniel Dett, a great African descent composer. Gramophone UK honored the
album as a critic’s choice and best album of the year, and it continues to be
featured on radio worldwide and streamed extensively. His other albums have
likewise featured many premieres, as well as masterpieces of the past.
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, Clipper began an online series, Music for
the Soul, featuring music by composers of color and women in combination with
well-known repertoire – “the intersection of classical music and social justice.”
Upcoming events and past concerts may be found on Clipper’s website:
www.clippererickson.com.
As a teacher, Clipper is dedicated to nurturing the love and understanding of music
in his classes at Westminster Conservatory in Princeton and Temple University.
He regularly gives master classes and performs in schools, encouraging and
bringing out the gifts of future generations of musicians.
Clipper made his debut at age nineteen in Los Angeles as soloist with the Young
Musicians Foundation Orchestra. He pursued his studies at The Juilliard School,
Yale University, and Indiana University, training with the renowned British pianist
John Ogdon. Erickson has won top prizes at international competitions such as the
Busoni and William Kapell, and performs as soloist with orchestras throughout the
US, as well as recitalist in venues including the Kennedy Center in Washington,
D.C., Carnegie Hall, and Symphony Space in New York.