“This is music that breaks any pre-set mold and does so inventively… Eric Heilner has a natural talent and we are the better for hearing his music… Recommended.”
Gapplegate Classical-Modern Music Review
“. . . although Heilner has spent his life playing keyboards, it turns out that he’s talented at composing . . .
Take Effect
“[Heilner has] . . . a wild sensibility filled with virtuosity, fun, beauty, and excitement.”
Ray Lustig – Juilliard Extension Faculty
Eric Heilner, a lifelong rock & roll / R&B / blues keyboardist, did not take the usual route to composing. It wasn’t until he was in his mid 60’s when he first felt the compulsion to compose. Heilner started studying composition at the Juilliard Extension in NYC and within a few years he was composing fully developed pieces for chamber ensembles and orchestras. His pieces have been performed at various venues in New York City, Moscow, and Lviv.
In October 2020, Heilner released his first album – Modern Sounds in Classical Music – produced by legendary producer Jack Douglas (John Lennon, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Patti Smith, etc). The album has gotten excellent reviews and is available on available for streaming & downloading on most digital platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, etc, etc, or you can purchase a digital download on Bandcamp. You can also listen to some of his more recent compositions here.
Heilner has recently had some modest successes in the international competition arena. His composition Variations on Aria of Asker recently won an honorable mention in the International Composition Competition of the Vienna Classical Music Academy in the Chamber Music Category; and his Suite for Strings, Episode 2 won 3rd place in the String Orchestra division of the ‘Città di Barletta’ International Composition Contest.
While Heilner continues to devote most of his time composing, he can still be found playing rock & roll keyboards in his favorite haunts in the wilds of New Jersey. He recently was selected by the North Jersey Blues Society to compete in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee in January 2024.
You may keep up with the latest news & events on Facebook or by signing up for Heilner’s humorous monthly news letter Where is Eric.