Eric Schweikert

Eric Schweikert  joined The Phil as Principal Timpani in September 1989. Eric is also a Phil Mentor on faculty and in partnership with the IPFW Department of Music.

Born in West Point, N.Y., he grew up in Chicago and began playing cello at age 8 and percussion at age 12. He also plays E-flat tenor/alto horn in the Old Crown Brass Band. He is Director of Percussion at IPFW and is Principal Percussion and Director of Percussion Ensemble at the Eastern Music Festival. A graduate of Interlochen Arts Academy, Schweikert has a Bachelor of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He also attended the Julliard School of Music. His previous orchestra positions were timpanist with the New World Symphony and acting principal timpanist with the Victoria Symphony in British Columbia, Canada. In addition, he has toured and played with the Chicago Symphony and the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and has played with the Indianapolis, Cleveland and Cincinnati symphonies. In his leisure time, Schweikert enjoys golf, fly fishing and camping.