Toronto-based cellist Erika Nielsen holds an Artist Diploma from The Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory as a student of David Hetherington. Born in West Germany, she performs regularly as a chamber, orchestral and freelance musician and recently completed a residency at The Banff Centre summer master class program. In October of 2011, Ms. Nielsen was appointed Principal Cellist of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra.

Erika completed her  Bachelor of Music degree at the Queen's University School of Music with Wolf Tormann, and was a member of the Kingston Symphony Association. She expanded her studies at summer music festivals such as Schloss Beuggen (Germany), Le Domaine Forget (Quebec), The Symphony Orchestra Academy of the Pacific (British Columbia) and The Toronto Summer Music Academy.  Master class performances have included Andres Diaz, Sol Gabetta, Hans Jorgen-Jensen, Philippe Muller, Shauna Rolston, Anthony Elliott, and Paul Marleyn.

A passionate performer and collaborator of new music, Ms. Nielsen has performed live with Grammy-winning artist Kanye West at the Air Canada Centre and for MTV Canada, and has recorded for The Trews, and Toronto ensembles such as Muskox, The Roaring Girl Cabaret and Klezfactor. This past summer she performed in Halifax and Vancouver with Canadian recording artist Jeffery Straker, and the duo will soon be hitting the stage in Whitehorse, Yukon.

Outside of the stage and studio, Erika enjoys outdoor living, painting and other crafts.

~October, 2011~

Erika Nielsen ~ Cellist