Cellist Eric Schatz Alterman has led a varied musical life that has spanned continents and roles as a chamber musician, orchestral performer, and soloist. Residing in Rio de Janeiro, he performed for 5 years as a section cellist and assistant principal in the Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira. Currently based in Oregon as cellist of the Delgani String Quartet, considered by Oregon Arts Watch "the state's finest chamber ensemble," he has appeared in performances and concert series throughout the state and beyond, including appearances at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and Prague's Charles University. Alterman serves as Assistant Principal Cellist of the Eugene Symphony and member of the Oregon Mozart Players, and has performed with the Oregon Bach Festival, Britt Festival Orchestra, Chamber Music Amici, and the Shedd Institute Microphilharmonic. His recitals have been featured at the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, the Rio de Janeiro International Cello Encounter, and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.
Alterman grew up in New York City, where he began music studies at a young age at the Mannes College of Music. Going on to receive Bachelors and Masters degrees at Brandeis University and Boston University, he studied cello with former and current Lydian Quartet members, Rhonda Rider and Joshua Gordon, and the late Vermeer Quartet cellist, Marc Johnson. Eric has consistently explored and pursued other genres of music, since his college days performing, arranging, and composing in an Arabic music ensemble. In Rio, he was a frequent performer of bossa nova at Copacabana’s famed music bar, Bip Bip.
Photo by Paul Carter
