Elizabeth Hershey ‘25
James Erwin, EA Chair of the Music Department and Choir Teacher, is truly a staple of Episcopal’s theater and music program. For the past eight years, Erwin has taught choir and other music courses at EA, enriching the mind of every student he teaches.
Photo courtesy of Donna Erwin
Erwin’s musical journey began with a passion for the piano. He says, “The public school [that he attended] offered free piano lessons on cardboard keyboards. So I would go to lessons on cardboard keyboards then go home and practice on our piano.” With close watch from his mother, his love of the piano spread, as did his participation in school choirs.
Later, Erwin decided to put a halt in his music career to pursue gymnastics. In retrospect, he believes that this decision was definitely a big mistake. However, Erwin became successful in gymnastics, even receiving a scholarship to the University of Oregon, which he denied in order to return to his true passion, music.
With time, Erwin’s musical talents strengthened and grew. He mastered new instruments, such as guitar, organ, and handbells. However, he believes that he has the tools to play any new instrument with ease, due to his background of composing music. Now, Erwin teaches many Upper School classes, ranging from Guitar to AP Music Theory. In addition to these classes, he is also the Music Director of the Musical, meaning that he gathers, teaches, and refines all musical aspects of the production.
One of Erwin’s greatest projects is his leadership of the Dora Khayatt music competition each year. However, Erwin did not create the competition, detailing that “The Dora Khayatt is a wonderful tradition that I inherited. I used notes from my predecessor, Mr. Buches, and colleagues to learn about what it was.” In addition to the prizes, Erwin also uses his allotted budget to gather judges from all musical backgrounds, including Jazz, Pop, and more.
Erwin says he truly adores the Episcopal Academy students. When asked about his favorite part of teaching, he explained that it is seeing and feeling the joy when students sing. One member of the choir, Cate Curatolo ‘24 remarks, “Mr. Erwin cares deeply for every one of his students, inspiring us to be the best vocalists and people we can be. Mr. Erwin is always willing to go out of his way to help students whether it’s for rehearsing repertoire, certain singing techniques, or just to talk about our day. Words cannot express how thankful I am for Mr. Erwin and I hope one day I can inspire others to follow their passion and leave a lasting impact, just as he has done for me.”