Eric Phinney has performed with the Berkshire Opera Orchestra, St. Cecilia Orchestra, New World Symphony, New Music Consort, Pulse Percussion Ensemble, Music from China and the contemporary group, EKKO. With Pulse and the New Music Consort, he has performed at music festivals in Moscow, Tokyo and Osaka. Mr. Phinney holds both a Bachelor's and Master's degree from Manhattan School of Music where he studied with Duncan Patton, James Preiss and Chris Lamb. After graduation, he began North Indian tabla studies with Canadian percussionist Bob Becker and with Indian tabla master Pandit Sharda Sahai of Beneras and Pandit Samir Chatterjee of Calcutta. He recently became a member of Chhandayan, an Indian musical organization based in Calcutta and is a full time student of Pandit Samir Chatterjee. In additional to Hindustani studies, he is a student of West African drumming with Robert Levin and recently started gyil studies with Valerie Naranjo. He has recorded with the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra on the Koch International and Newport Classics labels