Erin Bonski, pianist, began her musical journey in Pennsylvania, where she studied with Dr. Tim Shafer at Penn State University while in high school, and became the youngest participant in the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts. Erin went on to earn her B.M. and M.M. degrees from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and pursued doctoral studies at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
A versatile artist, Erin has served as Staff Continuo player at the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute, collaborative pianist at the Interlochen Center for the Arts, and as Chorusmaster and Repetiteur for Toledo Opera. Since moving to Santa Barbara, she has collaborated regularly with local arts organizations, including the Santa Barbara Symphony, Opera Santa Barbara, and Ensemble Theatre Company, and has performed internationally, including appearances with the Grammy-winning ensemble Forever Tango. Her academic career includes positions at Santa Barbara City College, the University of California, Santa Barbara, Westmont College and Bowling Green State University, where she has taught piano pedagogy, opera coaching, and piano literature.
She has published works on ensemble playing and sight-reading in American Music Teacher Magazine, and she has recorded the works of Dr. Earl Louis Stewart. Erin has also worked as a church musician throughout most of her career, leading a vibrant music ministry for the last decade at First Presbyterian Church. She is eager to give back to her community as Secretary on the Board for the Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation. Currently, she serves as adjunct faculty and collaborative pianist at Westmont College while maintaining a private piano studio and consulting with arts organizations across Southern California.