Eric Heilner

Member since 2017

Award-winning composer ERIC HEILNER took a very unconventional journey into composition. A lifelong rock & roll and R&B keyboardist, it wasn't until he was in his sixties that he first felt the compulsion to create music. He started by studying composition at the Juilliard Extension Division. Within a few years, Heilner was composing fully developed pieces for chamber ensembles and orchestras. His pieces have been performed at various venues in New York City, Moscow, Los Angeles, Milan, Vienna, and Lviv.

In October 2020, he released his first album, Modern Sounds in Classical Music, produced by legendary producer Jack Douglas (John Lennon, Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, Patti Smith, and many others) and engineered by the equally legendary Jay Messina. The album has received excellent reviews and is available on all streaming platforms. You can also listen to some of Heilner's more recent compositions on his YouTube channel.

Heilner has had significant successes in the international competition arena. His composition Excursion for Piano Trio #4 recently won first place in the prestigious Vienna Classical Music Academy Competition. Other compositions have also garnered 3rd place and honorable mentions.

Heilner describes his music as "clearly in the classical tradition, but incorporating new rhythmic elements derived from rock & roll, R & B, New Orleans music, and in particular African folk music."

While Heilner continues to devote most of his time to composing, he can also be found playing rock & roll keyboards at his favorite haunts in the wilds of New Jersey.

He recently represented the North Jersey Blues Society in the International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee. In addition, Heilner just released a new album of his unique interpretations of the blues piano tradition - Blues Phantasia.