About the Artist
(the short version)
Erik Johnson-Scherger is a forward-looking violinist and violist, happily based in Ottawa, Ontario. As a performer, he is a genre-defying chamber-musician at home in liminal space. As a pedagogue, he believes strongly in helping his students self actualize by connecting to and developing their own musical voice, and by creating an audiation-centred framework for effortless physical execution.
Erik is grateful to have played a diverse array of venues - including Massey Hall, alongside Charlotte Cardin and Strings From Paris, and the National Arts Center, most recently as part of a nonet under Bobby Previte, re-imagining Miles Davis for Ottawa Jazzfest 2026. Erik maintains an active performing schedule as a member of Musk Ox, Norteño, and Phosphor String Duo/Quartet, and in collaboration with Kyle Jordan and Malia Rogers. His teaching practice includes positions at Carleton University and SuzukiMusic, in addition to a healthy private studio. He has also contributed music to Christian Guerin's historical drama serial, Les Enfants de la Nouvelle France, and scored Tara Natalia's short film This Is My Face, which won an Audience Choice Award from Broken Film Festival in 2025.
When not at work, you can usually find Erik experimenting with cookie recipes, playing with his cat Tofu, running TTRPG games, and practicing historical longsword fencing.
