Eric Shumsky has a varied and exciting career as a violist, chamber musician and conductor. In the music world he is known and respected widely among musicians. In the last decade however, Eric Shumsky has chosen a novel path more reminiscent of a Peace Corps musician. His travels have taken him to far away lands such as Nicaragua, India, China, Korea, Romania, Morocco and Mexico where the artist has performed in numerous settings all the while inspiring new generations of young musicians and aspiring music students. Eric Shumsky’s influences are unmistakable; Oscar Shumsky- Has been one of his greatest inspirations-Lillian Fuchs-violist, with whom Eric Shumsky studied while attending Juilliard School of Music was another towering figure during his formative years. Shumsky was also greatly influenced by Primrose who was in turn influenced by Kreisler … Shumsky also studied with Miriam Solovief while he lived in Paris in the 1980’s.“To be influenced by the greats is part of being a musician.

I love the viola and it needs to be treated beautifully. Playing the viola provides a powerful and comfortable voice for me. Far from being a perfect player I would like to think of myself as a violist possessing enough technique and enough artistry to produce works of beauty. It is above all important to create something which feels meaningful to oneself.”

Shumsky has recorded the Mozart "Sinfonie Concertante" with his father and teacher, the great violinist Oscar Shumsky, on the EMI label, with Yan-Pascal Tortelier conducting the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Also with his father, he has recorded other major works for violin and viola and has received praise from the American and European press. Fanfare Magazine, reviewing the "Virtuoso Duo" album in their 1983 issue, exclaimed: "Beautiful tone, clean intonation, a superb recording." Hi Fi Stereo (Germany 1983): "This recording leaves nothing to be desired." Eric Shumsky has appeared as a soloist in over 100 cities throughout the world and has performed with orchestras including the London Sinfonia, Salzburg Sinfonietta, Northwest Chamber Orchestra, and Montreal Chamber Orchestra. In 1986 Shumsky was a featured artist on BBC live in London, and has appeared and been broadcast over most of the important radio stations throughout Europe.

Hailed as one of the finest teachers Mr. Shumsky has taught at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Ecole Normal de Musique in Paris, Karlsruhe Hochschule for music in Germany, Dartmouth University, Rutgers University, University of Michigan, University of Washington, University of British Columbia, University of Victoria B.C, Montreal Conservatory of Music, and many other institutes. In September 1998, Mr. Shumsky was invited to work in Mexico City with the string section of the Orchestra Sinfonica Carlos Chavez.

Eric Shumsky has, in recent years, focused more intently upon recording and has formed Vestige Classics, a company which distributes featured recordings of string instrumentalists. He continues to concertize and give classes.