Erica Miner

Erica Miner

Violinist turned author ERICA MINER has had a multi-faceted career as an award-winning screenwriter, author, lecturer and poet. A native of Detroit, she studied violin at Boston University with Boston Symphony Orchestra concertmaster Joseph Silverstein, where she graduated cum laude; the New England Conservatory of Music, and the Tanglewood Music Center, summer home of the Boston Symphony, where she performed with such celebrated conductors as Leonard Bernstein. She continued her studies with Mr. Silverstein at the New England Conservatory of Music, and went on to perform with the prestigious Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for twenty-one years, where she worked closely with much-respected maestro James Levine and numerous other luminaries of the opera world. After retiring from the Met, Erica drew upon her lifelong love for writing as her creative outlet and studied screenwriting in Los Angeles with screenplay guru Linda Seger. Erica’s screenplays awards include such recognized competitions as Santa Fe and the Writer’s Digest. Her debut novel, TRAVELS WITH MY LOVERS, won the Fiction Prize in the Direct from the Author Book Awards. Subsequent published novels include the first in Erica’s FOUREVER FRIENDS novel series chronicling four teenage girls coming of age in the volatile 60s. ARIA FOR MURDER, a novel of assassination and intrigue at the Metropolitan Opera, the first in her Julia Kogan Opera Mystery series published by Level Best Books, has won rave reviews across the board. The sequel, PRELUDE TO MURDER, received a glowing report ('A skillfully written whodunit of operatic proportions') from the prestigious Kirkus Reviews (https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/erica-miner/prelude-to-murder/). Erica’s lectures, seminars and workshops have received kudos on both coasts and in Australia, and she has won top ratings as a special lecturer for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. An active contributor to BroadwayWorld.com, Backtrack.com and LAOpus.com, she also contributed a monthly “Power of Journaling” article series for the National Association of Baby Boomer Women newsletter. Other writings have appeared in Vision Magazine, WORD San Diego, Istanbul Our City, and numerous E-zines. Erica’s lecture topics include “The Art of Self- Re-invention,” “Journaling: the Write Way to Write Fiction,” “Solving the Mystery of Mystery Writing,” and “Opera Meets Hollywood.” Details about Erica’s novels, screenplays and lectures can be found on her website, https://www.ericaminer.com.




LEARN MORE ABOUT Erica Miner

First Show:

GYPSY

Favorite Show:

Onward Victoria

Favorite Stories:

  • Lawrence Brownlee Speaks as he Sings: Gloriously - African American tenor Brownlee is opera royalty, a representative of diversity in his field and at the top of his game. Interviewing him was sheer pleasure, as he could not have been more affable, accessible, and articulate.
  • MET OPERA CONCERTMASTER RAYMOND GNIEWEK: A REMEMBRANCE at Metropolitan Opera House - Ray Gniewek was also opera royalty, one of the greatest concertmasters of all time, and a key influence on my life as a violinist with the Met Opera. His immense contribution to the opera world cannot be quantified. I remain in awe of him.
  • BWW Previews: THE (R)EVOLUTION OF STEVE JOBS - The brilliant operatic rendering of the life of this ultra-important person, whose work has had an enormous influence on all of our lives, has been hugely successful since its premiere. The composer and librettist captured the essence of Jobs: his life, his trials, and his journey, so perfectly.
  • BWW Interview: Jamie Bernstein Celebrates Remarkable Centennial - Jamie Bernstein has been a friend and colleague ever since we were at the Tanglewood Music Center decades ago, when I was a Fellowship student working with her famous father, whom we all called Lenny. She is keenly intelligent, savvy, and a joy to interview.
  • Interview: David Holloway Shepherds Santa Fe Apprentices - David is another former opera colleague whose friendship goes back decades, ever since we were neighbors in Manhattan and our children played together and we worked together at the met Opera. More recently, he provided me entree into the Santa Fe Opera, where I based my most recent Opera Mystery novel, Prelude to Murder. His insights into the workings of this unique opera company were fascinating.


MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

Review: PLAY/WRITE at Planet M Records
Review: PLAY/WRITE at Planet M Records
March 22, 2024

What did our critic think of PLAY/WRITE at Planet M Records? There is much to unpack here in the way of unique sounds, colors and vibrations

Review: X: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MALCOLM X at McCaw Hall
Review: X: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF MALCOLM X at McCaw Hall
February 25, 2024

Without doubt a definitive event for Seattle Opera, and worth experiencing in all of its many extraordinary aspects.

Interview: Quynh Nguyen of CELEBRATE ASIA at Benaroya Hall
Interview: Quynh Nguyen of CELEBRATE ASIA at Benaroya Hall
January 27, 2024

The event highlights the city’s all-important dynamic Asian community and features the American premiere of veteran composer Paul Chihara’s Concerto for Piano and Chamber Orchestra

Review: SIBELIUS SYMPHONY NO. 5 at Benaroya Hall
Review: SIBELIUS SYMPHONY NO. 5 at Benaroya Hall
December 1, 2023

Two contemporary compositions provided the framework for the haunting, ebullient Symphony No. 5 in E-flat major, Op. 82 by iconic Finnish composer Jean Sibelius in a recent program, performed live in Benaroya Hall on Nov. 16, 2023, and streamed on the innovative Seattle Symphony+ service. Helmed by Finnish conductor Dalia Stasevska, who debuted with the orchestra in 2022, the program was intriguing and captivating.

Review: ALCINA at McCaw Hall
Review: ALCINA at McCaw Hall
October 15, 2023

What did our critic think of ALCINA It’s worth going to see for the glorious music and courageous, proficient singing

Review: DAS RHEINGOLD at McCaw Hall
Review: DAS RHEINGOLD at McCaw Hall
August 13, 2023

The outstanding cast and provocative production, merged with Wagner’s indisputably monumental music and drama, made this Rheingold a de rigueur happening

BWW CD REVIEW: ARCHETYPE at Lexicon Classics
BWW CD REVIEW: ARCHETYPE at Lexicon Classics
July 3, 2023

What did our critic think of BWW CD REVIEW: ARCHETYPE at Lexicon Classics?a not-to-be-missed musical delight that will elicit the desire for repeated listenings

Review: MORLOT, SEATTLE SYMPHONY CAPTIVATE IN ALL-FRENCH PROGRAM at Benaroya Hall
Review: MORLOT, SEATTLE SYMPHONY CAPTIVATE IN ALL-FRENCH PROGRAM at Benaroya Hall
June 5, 2023

This was a hugely demanding program, and Morlot and his musicians together produced an awe-inspiring accomplishment.

Review: RISING at Warner Classics/Erato Label
Review: RISING at Warner Classics/Erato Label
June 2, 2023

A veritable cornucopia of African American talent from multiple generations. One could hardly imagine a more comprehensive collection. Not to be missed.

Interview: Michael Chioldi of LA TRAVIATA at McCaw Hall
Interview: Michael Chioldi of LA TRAVIATA at McCaw Hall
May 6, 2023

A company and audience favorite, Chioldi made his SO debut as Baron Scarpia in Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca in 2021

Review: PHILHARMONIA FANTASTIQUE
Review: PHILHARMONIA FANTASTIQUE
December 6, 2022

What did our critic think of PHILHARMONIA FANTASTIQUE at Chicago Orchestra Hall? An amazing feat

Interview: Daron Hagen of 9/10: LOVE BEFORE THE FALL
Interview: Daron Hagen of 9/10: LOVE BEFORE THE FALL
November 14, 2022

only a sample of the awe-inspiring creativity of Daron Hagen. Versatile doesn’t begin to describe this Renaissance Man of Music.

Interview: Allen Shearer, Claudia Stevens of PROSPERO'S ISLAND at Herbst Theater
Interview: Allen Shearer, Claudia Stevens of PROSPERO'S ISLAND at Herbst Theater
November 6, 2022

Set for a March 25, 2023, premiere at the Herbst Theater, the upcoming opera is based on The Tempest

Interview: Kip Cranna of SAN FRANCISCO OPERA CENTENNIAL at War Memorial Opera House - Part 2
Interview: Kip Cranna of SAN FRANCISCO OPERA CENTENNIAL at War Memorial Opera House - Part 2
September 4, 2022

In part two of this interview, Kip Cranna speaks on the San Francisco Opera Centennial and opera as a living form.

Interview: Kip Cranna of SAN FRANCISCO OPERA CENTENNIAL at War Memorial Opera House - Part 1
Interview: Kip Cranna of SAN FRANCISCO OPERA CENTENNIAL at War Memorial Opera House - Part 1
September 4, 2022

Cranna’s unique history with the company extends over a 40-year period.

BWW Review: THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO at McCaw Hall
BWW Review: THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO at McCaw Hall
May 8, 2022

If ever an opera could be described as “easy listening” and flawlessly engaging, Figaro would qualify hands down

BWW Interview: Lawrence Brownlee of LAWRENCE BROWNLEE IN CONCERT at McCaw Hall
BWW Interview: Lawrence Brownlee of LAWRENCE BROWNLEE IN CONCERT at McCaw Hall
April 20, 2022

He expresses himself as articulately when speaking as he does when singing

BWW Interview: Erin Morley of ARIADNE AUF NAXOS at Teatro alla Scala
BWW Interview: Erin Morley of ARIADNE AUF NAXOS at Teatro alla Scala
April 7, 2022

The Richard Tucker award-winning singer’s star is rising at an astonishing rate

BWW Review: ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE at Tagney Jones Hall
BWW Review: ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE at Tagney Jones Hall
February 14, 2022

Bold new production of Christoph Willibald Gluck’s iconic rendering of the classic Greek tragedy

BWW CD Review: WHY DO THE NATIONS at Acis
BWW CD Review: WHY DO THE NATIONS at Acis
October 18, 2021

Grammy-nominated baritone Stephen Powell demonstrates that this can be accomplished in the classical genre



 1       …    




Videos