Erica Washburn of Pembroke appointed director of choral activities at NEC

Pembroke, MA — Erica Washburn of Pembroke has been named
director of choral activities at New England Conservatory.
Washburn, who has been serving as interim director since fall 2009,
has led NEC performances of the “Requiem” and “Oratorio de Noel,”
works of Irving Fine, Charles Ives, and a premiere by Anthony
Maglione based on Edgar Allen Poe’s “Spirits of the Dead.” She has
also prepared the choruses for the NEC Symphony’s performances last
fall of works by Brahms.

Washburn came to NEC from the Greatbatch School of Music at
Houghton College, where she was an instructor of voice, and also
director of both the Houghton College Women’s Choir and Camerata
Singers. She received an master’s degree in music in choral
conducting and in vocal performance from East Carolina University
in 2006 after earning a bachelor of music degree in music education
from Westminster Choir College. As a graduate student at ECU,
Washburn served as conductor of the ECU Women’s Chorale, and was
the student of Dr. Daniel Bara and John Kramar.

Washburn made her Eastman Opera Theatre debut in January 2008
portraying the role of Mother/Allison in the premiere of “ This is
the Rill Speaking.” She has also performed selections with the
Eastman School Symphony Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic
Orchestra, Genesee Valley Orchestra & Chorus, and appeared as a
soloist at the Rochester Memorial Art Gallery for the Eastman
Rochester Organ Initiative Festival. She has given numerous recital
performances and served as chorus master for the April 2008 Eastman
Opera Theatre production “The Merry Widow.”