I am a composer of classical instrumental music, especially chamber music and large ensembles.

Erika Foin was born in Davis, California, where she remained until moving to Portland, Oregon to attend Lewis & Clark College, where she majored in both music and English. She then obtained a master's degree at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Her primary teachers were Vincent McDermott and Judith Lang Zaimont. From Minnesota, she moved for a while to Massachusetts, where she was the director of a composer-performer collaboration called Just In Time Composers and Players. She has now returned to the Pacific Northwest and is again a resident of Portland, Oregon. She has been commissioned by multiple parties, including Charles Ullery (principal bassoon, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra), Cambridge (MN) Community Band, Minnesota Philharmonic, womenperformhers (Minneapolis, MN), the MIT Wind Ensemble, and the New Philharmonia (Newton, MA).

I keep on trying to write music that pleases me. I only occasionally succeed.

Everything Changes, for orchestra (2006)
Commissioned by the New Philharmonia
Performed April 29, Newton, MA

Children's March, for wind ensemble (2005)
Commissioned by the MIT Wind Ensemble
Performed December 2, Cambridge, MA

Still as This, for soprano, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (2004)
Performed April 7 and 9, Watertown and Lexington, MA
Performed May 30, 2004, St. Paul, MN

Nightingaily, for two trumpets and two trombones (2003)

Solstice, for chamber orchestra (2003)
Performed May 30 and 31, St. Paul, MN

Elegy for Sarah, for string quartet (2002)
Performed February 14 and 16, 2003, Cambridge and Brookline, MA

Entering the Light, for 3-8 performers (2002)
Performed December 29, 2002 (Concord, MA) and March 14, 2003 (Lexington, MA)

Dance Suite, for solo bassoon (2002)
Performed April 8 and 10, 2002, Lexington and Natick, MA

On The Lam(b), for Bb Clarinet and Bassoon (2000)
Performed October 27 & 29, 2000, Lexington and Natick, MA

WhiskWhiffPuff, for flute, English Horn and violoncello (2000)
Performed April 7 and 9, 2000, Boston and Natick, MA

The Bright Edge of the Road, for middle school band (1999)

A Cambridge Overture, for community band (1999)
performed May 2, 1999, Cambridge, MN

The Empire of Lights, for French horn and piano (1998)
performed May 26, 1999, Minneapolis, MN

Blind Eden, for flute, viola and harp (1998)

Midwinter, for a cappella SATB chorus (1998)

Three Movements for Orchestra, for full orchestra (1998)
read November 9, 1998, Minnesota Orchestra

Sparkle Shoes, for chamber orchestra (1998)
performed May 23, 1998, Minneapolis, MN



Two Songs, for soprano and piano (1998)
performed 6/2/98, University of Minnesota

A Swarm of Gnats, for SATB chorus and woodwind quintet (1998)
performed 6/2/98, University of Minnesota

Ice Floe, for bassoon, two violas, and two ?cellos (1997)
commissioned by Charles Ullery, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
performed 8/7/98, Grand Teton Music Festival
performed 6/2/98, University of Minnesota

The Hour of Remembrance, for wind ensemble (1997)
Winner, University of Minnesota Call for Scores
performed 6/4/98, University of Minnesota Wind Ensemble
performed 2/8/98, Lewis & Clark College

Under the Lime, for bassoon quartet (1997)
Published by Jeanne, Inc.
Performed 10/97 and 6/97, University of Minnesota
Performed University of Wisc.-Stevens Point and University of Oregon
Performed 3/30/03, Community Music Center, Springfield, MA

Subterranean Journeys, for string quartet (1997; rev. 1998)
Performed 6/2/98, University of Minnesota

Diamonds and Squares, for marimba and violin (1997)
Selected for performance and critique at the Nebjosa Zivkovic Master Class,
11/2/98, University of Minnesota; 4/2001, Lexington and Natick, MA

Solitude, for solo flute (1996)
Performed April 8 and 10, 2002, Lexington and Natick, MA
Performed 11/13/96, University of Minnesota
Performed 10/24/95, Lewis & Clark College