Eric McEnaney

Eric McEnaney is a Grammy-nominated pianist, vocal coach and artist-teacher known for his expertise in contemporary opera. He has collaborated with composers such as Dominick Argento, Carlisle Floyd, and Ricky Ian Gordon, and has worked on over 130 productions with opera companies nationwide.

McEnaney served as Pianist & Vocal Coach at Minnesota Opera for 16 seasons, contributing to world premieres including "Silent Night" and "The Shining," and was Principal Production Pianist & Coach at Florentine Opera Company for four seasons. a sought-after recitalist and accompanist, he has also performed as an orchestral keyboardist with Minnesota Orchestra and Milwaukee Symphony. McEnaney holds advanced degrees in piano pedagogy, performance and collaborative piano, and his research focuses on vocal coaching pedagogy.

Above all, a vocal coach must serve as a technician in the pronunciation, diction and understanding of language. Text is perhaps the most unique feature of the singer’s process: it offers a truly specific route to connect with the audience emotionally.

Eric McEnaney

Career Highlights

• Pianist & Coach for world premiere of "Silent Night," winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Music.
• Principal Coach for the recording of Carlisle Floyd’s final opera "Prince of Players," which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Opera Recording.
• More than 100 performances as an orchestral keyboardist with Minnesota Orchestra and Milwaukee Symphony.
• Played celesta on the recording of Mahler’s Eighth Symphony with Minnesota Orchestra, under the baton of Osmo Vänskä.
• Masterclasses and guest coaching for Yale School of Music, University of Minnesota, and Wolf Trap Opera Company.

Awards, Recognitions and Honors

• Minnesota Star Tribune Top 10 Classical Performances of the Year for "An American in Paris" with Minnesota Orchestra.
• Harvard Community High School Alumni Hall of Fame Inductee.
• Alumnus of Music Academy of the West and Wolf Trap Opera Company.
• Elected to Pi Kappa Lambda Music Honor Society

Organizations

• Member, American Federation of Musicians
• Board Member, Opera Reading Project