Erica Cice

Erica Cice joined the oboe section of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in the 2006-07 season. She has performed as guest oboist and English hornist with the New York Philharmonic, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Charleston Symphony, and the neighboring Rock Hill Symphony. She has also been a finalist in the Fernand-Gillet International Oboe Competition, where she was awarded Honorable Mention as part of the International Double Reed Society convention.

Cice is on the faculty of Davidson College. She also enjoys teaching privately and giving masterclasses throughout the Carolinas. Her private students have gone on to esteemed institutions such as the Curtis Institute of Music, the Mannes School of Music, and Interlochen Arts Academy. She has been on faculty of the Summer Orchestra Institute at New England Conservatory of Music and the Performing Arts Institute summer program held in Kingston, PA. Besides performing orchestrally, Cice also enjoys performing in solo and chamber music recitals in the greater Charlotte area.

Cice is a graduate of Temple University, where she studied under Louis Rosenblatt and Richard Woodhams of the Philadelphia Orchestra. She has attended the Aspen Music Festival and School as a Fellow and the Académie Musicale de Villecroze in France with oboist Alexei Ogrintchouk of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Originally from the Boston area, her early studies were under the guidance of Ron Kaye and her mentor, Wayne Rapier.

When Cice is not performing or teaching the oboe, she enjoys gardening, cooking, and spending time with her husband, daughter, and cat. Cice is also a certified Anat Baniel Method NeuroMovement® practitioner, working with adults, high performers, and special needs children to learn and overcome limitations through gentle movement. 

What piece made you fall in love with music? 

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, “Pastoral.” Disney's Fantasia features Beethoven's 6th at length, and I loved it so much as a child. Still do! 

Do you have any pre-performance rituals? 

I dip my reeds in water before leaving for the hall so they are ready to play when I get there.  

What's an interesting tidbit about how you chose your instrument? 

My dad played me a recording of Peter and the Wolf, by Prokofiev, and I felt sorry for the duck when it got eaten by the wolf. Now I just feel sorry for myself when I’m making reeds. Ha! 

What’s your favorite thing about performing for Charlotte audiences? 

There is a lot of enthusiasm, and I can feel that from the audience more and more! 

What would you be doing if you weren’t a professional musician? 

I would be a full-time NeuroMovement practitioner. Right now, it’s part-time, when I have time! 

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you? 

I have a motorcycle and an accordion. I play with both when I have time.