Eric Sammut

He later attended percussion classes with Michel Ventula at the National Regional Conservatory (NRC) in Toulouse. In 1989, the same year that he received an unanimous First Prize as student of Francois Dupin and Georges Van Gucht, Eric became principal percussionist with the Orchestre de l’Opera National de Lyon. In 1995, after receiving the First International Marimba Prize of the Leigh Stevens Competition in New Jersey, he undertook a recital tour and gave masterclasses in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Eric began teaching marimba in Toulouse in 1995, as well as at the NRC in Paris and the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow, in addition to being Principal Percussionist with the Orchestre de Paris. Since 1994, he has composed several pieces for marimba solo and ensembles published in France, United States, Norway and Japan.

After participating in numerous CD and video productions with the Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre National de l’Opera de Lyon and Orchestre de Paris, he produced the CD Four-Mallet Ballet, an album for solo marimba in 2005. A new CD Mirages was released in 2008 with musicians Philippe Berrod, Eric Echampard and David Patrois and the String Quintet of the Orchestre de Paris.

Eric is a Malletech Artist. His CD Sailing in Seoul includes his own concerto for marimba and concerto for vibes.