Sunderman Conservatory of Music

Pianist/vocalist Eric Byrd has been playing professionally for over 30 years. Along with the principles of swing and be-bop, rousing gospel-tinged chords and trilling blues lines are fundamental elements of his performance style. Byrd’s improvisations are intense, soulful and romantic; he takes listeners on a joyride as his fingers create magical works of art.

A Grammy Award voter, Byrd has performed with Wynton Marsalis, Chick Corea, Mike Stern, Randy Brecker, Tim Green, Warren Wolf, Jeff Majors, Charlie Byrd, and Yolanda Adams to name a few. Along with his own recordings as a leader, he also appears on over 15 recordings by other artists. A former music professor at McDaniel College where he completed his undergraduate degree, Byrd is currently the director of Worship and Media at FCOB in Frederick, MD. An in-demand leader and sideman, active in both the jazz and gospel worlds, he is the primary composer for the group.

Alongside saxophonist Tim Warfield, Byrd is currently an Artist in Residence at Messiah College in PA where he directs the United Voices of Praise Gospel Choir. In 2021 he joined drummer Alphonso Young, Jr on the jazz faculty of Shenandoah University as private jazz piano instructor. Byrd is also the Jazz Ensemble director at the Sunderman Conservatory of Music at Gettysburg College.