AWARD-WINNING MUSIC PRODUCER, CURATOR, ARTS LEADER & EDUCATOR
Eric Oberstein is a multiple GRAMMY and Latin GRAMMY-winning producer, curator, arts leader, and educator.
A New York-born and raised musician of Cuban American heritage, Eric is committed to creating environments that nurture adventurous artists to achieve their goals — whether in the studio, on stage, or in the community.
He is equally invested in building and managing sustainable arts organizations, and producing unique arts experiences that bring people together.
“Keep an ear out for whatever [Oberstein] produces next: If his streak of recent awards is any indication, it’ll be a keeper.”
VETERAN ARTS EXECUTIVE & PROGRAMMER
Eric is a respected and trusted arts leader, with 15 years of executive and senior-level experience managing arts organizations and curating multidisciplinary programs in the non-profit and higher education spheres, at Harlem Stage, Duke Performances at Duke University, and the Afro Latin Jazz Alliance.
DAFNIS PRIETO
Eric collaborates with Cuban-born, GRAMMY-winning drummer, composer, educator, and MacArthur Fellow Dafnis Prieto.
Eric produced the Dafnis Prieto Sí o Sí Quartet’s new album, 3 Sides of the Coin, out now on Dafnison Music!
Eric served as Producer on Prieto’s 2022 album, Cantar, featuring vocalist Luciana Souza, and co-produced with Larry Klein, out now on Dafnison Music.
Eric served as Producer on the Dafnis Prieto Big Band’s 2018 GRAMMY-winning album, Back to the Sunset, and the Dafnis Prieto Sextet’s 2020 GRAMMY-nominated album, Transparency.
In January 2019, Dafnis Prieto returned to his native Cuba to perform his music on the island for the first time in 20 years. Eric was honored to serve as Producer on this tour.
Emmy-nominated filmmaker Saleem Reshamwala (KidEthnic) joined to document this historic and emotional moment for the short film, Regresar: Back in Cuba.
MUSIC
Eric is an accomplished music producer and project manager, having worked with artists and producers including Dafnis Prieto, Arturo O'Farrill, Luciana Souza, Larry Klein, and Bombadil.
Eric is working on a forthcoming EP from vocalist Vuyo Sotashe and pianist Chris Pattishall, co-produced with Rafiq Bhatia.
EDUCATOR
Eric is a committed educator, invested in mentoring young arts administrators. He previously served as an adjunct faculty member at Duke University. He was proud to design and teach a fully enrolled course for Duke undergrads, Introduction to Performing Arts Management & Entrepreneurship, a collaboration with Duke Performances, Duke Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and Duke Arts.
Eric’s teaching and his course were cited as among the top 5% of all undergraduate Humanities instructors and courses in Duke’s Trinity College.
Deborah Rutter (third from the right in the back row), President of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, with Eric and his students in Introduction to Performing Arts Management & Entrepreneurship.
Eric was fortunate to welcome Deborah Rutter, President of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC, as a guest speaker to his course. Duke Arts covered Rutter's visit and the course in a story, "Training the Next Generation of Arts Leaders," HERE.
Photos (top to bottom) by Alex Boerner, Marc Millman, Osmani Tellez, David Garten & Alex Boerner.