artistic creator &
collaborator
erik
fauss
● california
● berlin
♫ london
audio samples
I saw a man bun outside
"Thistles and weeds" (in progress)
Slow Morning
Arabic Medley
About Me
Erik Fauss is a freelance violist and singer/songwriter. He is currently finishing his Masters at the Royal Academy of Music, studying with Juan-Miguel Hernandez and Helene Clement.
Before moving to London, Fauss completed his Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. In the Fall of 2016, he studied with Matthias Maurer and Thomas Selditz in Vienna and Yuta Nishiyama at the University of Arts in Berlin.
Fauss has won various competitions and prizes, including 1st prize in the Santa Barbara Performing Arts Scholarship Foundation competition (2017), Westmont College Concerto Competition (2017 and 2018), North London Festival Viola Competition and D’Addario Strings Prize (2019), and the Theodore Holland Viola Prize (2020). In addition to receiving a Royal Academy merit scholarship, Fauss is also a Drake Calleja Trust Scholar (2019).
During his time at the Royal Academy of Music, he soloed with the Symphony Orchestra under Sir Mark Elder, won the Wolfe Wolfinsohn String Quartet Prize, and recorded the Bach Goldberg variations with Trevor Pinnock, the Academy Soloists Ensemble, and students from the Canadian Royal Conservatory of Music.
Fauss has toured and performed with a myriad of ensembles in past summers. While at Westmont, he participated in the college orchestra, choir, and jazz ensemble. Leading the viola section, he toured with the orchestra to Italy, Washington D.C, Ireland, and Wales, and with the College Choir to Oregon, Washington, and Vancouver. He participated in the Credo Chamber Music Festival in Oberlin, Ohio, the Chamber Music Institute at University of Nebraska Lincoln, Orford Music Festival in Montreal, Ameropa International Music Festival in Prague, Encore Quartet Festival in Cleveland, Borromeo Music Festival in Switzerland, Stellenbosch International Chamber Music Festival in South Africa, and MusicWorks Quartet Seminar in Cornwall.
His involvement with educational programs instigated a mentorship with an El Sistema program in Santa Barbara called the Incredible Children’s Arts Network, where he taught music to underprivileged elementary school students. He continues to teach piano, violin, and viola privately.
Since moving to London, Fauss has engaged actively with various communities and ensembles. He recorded and collaborated with the Kreutzer Quartet, started his own piano trio, and founded the Bell Quartet, which was accepted into the Frost Quartet Fellowship Scheme and gave a series of concerts throughout the country. He has since left the quartet to collaborate with other groups and begin his own folk indie band: The Salts, with Audrey Tambudzai. Fauss remains an active member of the Kings Chamber Orchestra and keyboardist/vocalist/violist of the Reality Church London music team.
Fauss recently finished his dissertation on audience – performer dynamics, and as part of this he produced and recorded his own workshop concert series called “Feedback with Fauss.” This is an ongoing project that will eventually incorporate other artists as well. Limited audience size ensures appropriate physical distancing and viability throughout the Coronavirus pandemic. In addition to developing this further, Fauss intends to record an album for the Salts, produce material from his improvisations, and continue collaborating with classical, folk, and jazz musicians. His privately curated recitals are available for hire, and lesson requests can be made on his website.