Eric is shown from the waist up and facing forward while smiling and holding a piece of fur.
Eric Avery
Eric Avery (he/him) is a Ngiyampaa, Yuin, Bandjalang and Gumbangirr artist renowned for his exquisite voice, violin and dance. Eric’s music continues the ancient tradition of his Ngiyampaa language through song.
As an avid violinist, Eric started learning classical music by “ear” when he was 11 and went on to study at Newtown Performing Arts and the Australian Institute of Music with a Bachelor of Music (Classical Performance, Violin). His rare musical gifts across cultures has led him to perform classical music in addition to original compositions expressing his Koori heritage. Eric is also a professional dancer graduating from the NAISDA Dance college and a mentorship at the Australian Ballet. He has performed as lead dancer with dance company Marrugeku for many years.
Since taking to the stage with the violin, Eric has captured the hearts and imagination of audiences and artists around the world. Career highlights include performing with the Black Arm Band, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Darwin Symphony Orchestra and Grammy Award winner Rhiannon Giddens. He is currently touring with Tina Arena as a solo artist and accompanying the Tina Arena Band. In 2019, Eric was invited to play alongside international cello legend Yo-Yo Ma at Barangaroo. The pair played a duet The Lullaby, a song sung by Avery’s great grandfather and his brothers.
Eric's most recent solo (Dancing with Strangers - Marrugeku) explores stories of first contact/invasion whilst reconnecting with Ngiyampaa language.
Eric Avery is participant in the 2019 edition of the Ngarra-Burria - First Peoples Composers program. He has also taught music with the Australian Chamber Orchestra through the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School. He has composed music for Ensemble Offspring, Bow and Arrow, Lorna Munro, The Banyan Crew, The Camerata Chamber Orchestra, The Southern Cross Soloists, Orchestra Victoria, Ella Havelka, Australian Ballet, Alice Springs World Orchestra, Vicki Van Hout, Marrugkeu, NAISDA, Shopfront Theatre for Young People, Critical Path, and Vera Hong.
Eric was recipient of The Smugglers Of Light Award founded by Jan and Nigel Westlake. He received two Australia Council Grants for travel to Canada to work with Viola Player Melody McKiver and Richard Cooke.
Finding a way to share the language of his ancestors through the violin has enabled Eric to confront the impacts of colonisation and express his identity as a contemporary Aboriginal man
Eric is shown from the waist up and facing forward while smiling and holding a piece of fur.
Eric Avery
Eric Avery (he/him) is a Ngiyampaa, Yuin, Bandjalang and Gumbangirr artist renowned for his exquisite voice, violin and dance. Eric’s music continues the ancient tradition of his Ngiyampaa language through song.
As an avid violinist, Eric started learning classical music by “ear” when he was 11 and went on to study at Newtown Performing Arts and the Australian Institute of Music with a Bachelor of Music (Classical Performance, Violin). His rare musical gifts across cultures has led him to perform classical music in addition to original compositions expressing his Koori heritage. Eric is also a professional dancer graduating from the NAISDA Dance college and a mentorship at the Australian Ballet. He has performed as lead dancer with dance company Marrugeku for many years.
Since taking to the stage with the violin, Eric has captured the hearts and imagination of audiences and artists around the world. Career highlights include performing with the Black Arm Band, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Darwin Symphony Orchestra and Grammy Award winner Rhiannon Giddens. He is currently touring with Tina Arena as a solo artist and accompanying the Tina Arena Band. In 2019, Eric was invited to play alongside international cello legend Yo-Yo Ma at Barangaroo. The pair played a duet The Lullaby, a song sung by Avery’s great grandfather and his brothers.
Eric's most recent solo (Dancing with Strangers - Marrugeku) explores stories of first contact/invasion whilst reconnecting with Ngiyampaa language.
Eric Avery is participant in the 2019 edition of the Ngarra-Burria - First Peoples Composers program. He has also taught music with the Australian Chamber Orchestra through the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School. He has composed music for Ensemble Offspring, Bow and Arrow, Lorna Munro, The Banyan Crew, The Camerata Chamber Orchestra, The Southern Cross Soloists, Orchestra Victoria, Ella Havelka, Australian Ballet, Alice Springs World Orchestra, Vicki Van Hout, Marrugkeu, NAISDA, Shopfront Theatre for Young People, Critical Path, and Vera Hong.
Eric was recipient of The Smugglers Of Light Award founded by Jan and Nigel Westlake. He received two Australia Council Grants for travel to Canada to work with Viola Player Melody McKiver and Richard Cooke.
Finding a way to share the language of his ancestors through the violin has enabled Eric to confront the impacts of colonisation and express his identity as a contemporary Aboriginal man