Erich Corfman

Erich Corfman is a Chicago-based trombonist and educator whose career spans orchestral, operatic, and chamber music performance. Originally from Cincinnati, he has established himself as a versatile performer and dedicated teacher throughout the Midwest.

Erich has performed with leading ensembles including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Opera San Antonio, South Bend Symphony Orchestra, and numerous other organizations across the United States. Since 2025, he has served as Principal Trombone of the Lansing Symphony Orchestra and Second Trombone of the Illinois Symphony Orchestra. He also served as Acting Second Trombone of the Des Moines Metro Opera during its 2024 season.

He earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Trombone Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, where he complemented his classical studies with coursework in jazz trombone and improvisation under Wayne Wallace and historical performance on sackbut with Liza Malamut. During his time at Indiana University, he was awarded a fellowship to the Aspen Music Festival and School in 2022. Erich recently completed a Master of Music degree at DePaul University, where he studied with Mark Fisher and Charlie Vernon.

A passionate educator, Erich teaches low brass at Central Middle School in Tinley Park, Illinois, and Wilbur Wright Middle School in Munster, Indiana. Outside of music, he enjoys spending time with his fiancée, Julia Koehler, a violinist and faculty member at the Merit School of Music, and their two cats, Oliver and Juniper.