Dr. Eric Hammer earned his Bachelor of Music degree at University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music in 1973.  He completed his Master of Music in wind conducting and Doctor of Musical Arts in music education at the University of Oregon. Prior to his graduate degrees, he taught in public schools for 16 years before finally joining the faculty of his alma mater at University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music in 1993.  

He served as Director of Bands and Professor of Music Education at the University of the Pacific for 27 years.  Among his many honors are the Conservatory’s Most Inspirational Professor Award, which he received twice. He was also elected to the prestigious American Bandmasters Association, which recognizes outstanding achievement on the part of concert band conductors and composers.

The Eugene Symphonic Band (ESB) was under Dr. Hammer’s baton from 1990-1992, while he completed his graduate and post-graduate studies at the University of Oregon.  During his tenure with ESB, Dr. Hammer co-initiated a college scholarship fund to encourage students to continue playing during and after college, and ESB continued to award the scholarship to many deserving students through the ensuing years.

His original scholarship, along with Eric’s passion for music education, has been the guiding light for our new outreach program – with which we hope to impact even more students and local schools with the passion for lifelong musicianship.