ERIKA ALLEN, piano

Erika Allen, a native of Blue Hill, Maine, began her musical studies at age 7. She is currently pursuing a master's degree in piano performance at the New England Conservatory where she studies with Vivian Weilerstein. She received her bachelor's degree from Oberlin Conservatory where she studied under Angela Cheng. An avid chamber musician, Erika has played with numerous ensembles including a trio from Interlochen Arts Academy that advanced to the semi-finals in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition in 2002. In past summers, she has attended the Banff and Bowdoin International Music Festivals, Kneisel Hall, Eastern Music Festival, and Interlochen Arts Camp. Erika is a two-time grand-prize winner of the Pine Tree State Competition and a first-prize winner of the Ocy L. Downs Piano Competition. She has played in masterclasses given by Menahem Pressler, Yong-Hi Moon, and Leonard Hokinson, among others. In January of 2006, Erika soloed with one of Oberlin's orchestras after winning the school's Mozart Piano Concerto Competition.