Eric Wagner is an in-demand freelance drummer and educator living in Poughkeepsie, New York with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Music from the University of Connecticut (UCONN). Having lived in Connecticut, New York City, and the Hudson Valley over the past ten years he has performed with Joe Piscopo (Saturday Night Live), Mark Small (Michael Buble), Chris Vadala (Chuck Mangione), John Mosca (Village Vanguard Orchestra), Eric Alexander, Jimmy Greene (Harry Connick, Jr.), Brad Leali, Tony Desare, Miles Brown, Tim Collins,  the Chic Chiccetti Big Band, and Roni Ben-Hur. College appearances included performances with Dr. Billy Taylor, Joe Lovano, John Clayton, Claudio Roditi, Oliver Lake, Ron Blake, Dick Oats, Dave Santoro, Andy Fusco, Walt Weiskopf, Jimmy Owens, and the late Victor Borge. He has performed for former Presidents George Bush, Bill Clinton and Soviet President Mikhail Gorbechov, Quincy Jones, and Bill Cosby. Eric studied with Kenny Burrell, Steve Turre, Carl Allen, Jeff Hamilton, John Riley, John Mosca, Steve Johns, Michael Carvin, Ellen Rowe, Bill Reynolds, Art Perretta, Dr. Peter Coutsouridis, Vincent Cassotta, Dave Santoro, Paul Brown, and Gene Bozzi.

Eric performs with Triple Threat which consists of Ken Faranda, Joe Bouchard (Blue Oyster Cult), and Bobby MacDougal (John Hall Band). His musical projects of the past have allowed him to open for some of musics well known performers such as, Spyro Gyra, The Bret Michaels Band, Dave Mason, Blue Oyster Cult, to name a few.  

Eric also performs many different styles and can be found performing in musical theatre pits for all types of shows. He has performed such shows as:

Hope's Concert For A Cure (Breast Cancer Support) Westchester Sandbox Theatre January 2010
Grease (Housatonic Musical Theatre Society) March 2010 
The Wizard of Oz (Yorktown Stage)
Kids 2009 (TriArts at the Sharon Playhouse)
Divas Do it All(TriArts at the Sharon Playhouse)
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat(Rhinebeck Performing Arts Center)
Aida(The Millbrook School)
42nd Street(Burke Catholic High School)
Chicago(Bergen County Community College)
West Side Story(Wadsworth Atheneum)
Pal Joey(Pace University)
Once Upon a Mattress(Goldenstone Productions)
Dream Girls(Poughkeepsie High School)  
and many others...
 
Having recorded and performed in and around New York City at various jazz clubs his experience also includes performances with many big bands, combos, and rock groups throughout the country. As a pit percussionist he has worked professionally with musical companies including Princess Cruise Lines. While in college he performed regularly with the wind ensembles, orchestra, and traveled the U.S. with the UCONN Pep band and UCONN Marching Band at such major events as the 1996 World Series at Yankee Stadium, halftime show for an NFL game in Buffalo NY, and the 1999 NCAA Final Four and Championship Basketball Games. He was a member of the 1994 Connecticut All-State Jazz Ensemble as the #1 drum set performer in Connecticut. Eric has been a jazz-teaching assistant at Frederick Douglas Academy in New York City.

Eric has been teaching students of all ages for over twenty years. He has taught all styles as a clinician, and has worked in band camps throughout the Northeast. He is currently an adjunct faculty member of Dutchess Community College Music School, Drum Instructor at the Trinity-Pawling Boarding School Pawling, NY, as well as teaching at Vincitore’s Piano Center in Poughkeepsie, New York.

Eric is a Member of the Dutchess County Regional Chamber of Commerce as well as the Percussive Arts Society. Eric is also endorsed by Precision Drums & Silverfox Drumsticks.