A student of world-famous jazz educators Jamey Aebersold, Herb Pomeroy, and Charlie Banacos, Eric Ostling employs a teaching style combining their legendary methodologies.  Also a composer, classical pianist, and percussionist, he has engaged in a variety of musical pursuits over his career, publishing articles on the nature of music and its performance, while making contributions to the legacy of these masters, and to the individualized teaching approach of Mr. Banacos in particular.

A graduate of MIT, Interlochen, and the Performing Arts School in Louisville, Eric has shared the stage with Yo-Yo Ma, Rufus Reid, Dave Liebman, Jamshied Sharifi, Charles Neville, Gladys Night and the Pips, the Louisville Orchestra, the Manhattan and Muir String Quartets, and the avant-garde dance band Vital Science.  His Jazz Quartet, featuring guitarist Peter Seckel, is preparing an album of original tunes to be available on Spotify, while performing regularly in Boston, New York, and related venues.

In 2024 Eric was commissioned by Fred Harris and the MIT Wind Ensemble for a piece featuring Boston Symphony Orchestra flutist Elizabeth Klein.  Since 2012 he has served as Director of the NYC-based Hanns Eisler trio, performing songs of the crossover composer with soprano Karyn Levitt, with an acclaimed CD release on Roven Records.  Eric’s commissions for the MIT Festival Jazz Ensemble include arrangements of Miles Davis’ ‘Tutu’ and Peter Bernstein’s ‘Dragonfly,’ receiving regular airplay on WGBH and becoming staples of the band’s significant repertoire.