ERIC SCHWEIKERT (principal timpani) joined EMF’s faculty in 1992 and is principal timpanist of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. Eric served as acting principal timpanist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for the 2011-12 season. Schweikert is head of the percussion department at Purdue University Fort Wayne, where he teaches, performs on faculty recitals and is drummer of the faculty jazz combo. Schweikert holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He also studied at The Juilliard School and is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy. Schweikert has been a guest timpanist with the Seoul, Detroit, Chicago, Cincinnati, Saint Louis, San Francisco, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh, Columbus, Milwaukee, and Alabama orchestras, as well as the Cleveland Orchestra and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Schweikert has toured the U.S., Europe and South America with the Chicago Symphony and Scandinavia with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra as timpanist. He has taught clinics and master classes at the Merit School of Music, Ball State University, University of Michigan, Western Michigan University, Interlochen Arts Academy, and University of Central Florida. Schweikert enjoys playing the E-flat Tenor Horn as a hobby instrument with the Old Crown Brass Band in Fort Wayne, a British-style brass band he helped found in 2007.