Eric Smrcka is a NYC based musician and conductor with a career spanning over three decades. He specializes in musical theatre, vocal accompaniment, and music education. As a seasoned music director, he has led more than 80 musical theatre productions, including nine mainstage and three youth musicals per season during his three-year tenure as Music Director at The Erie Playhouse. 

Eric studied piano and music education at the Penn State School of Music where he studied piano with Dr. Steven Smith and  Marlene Dosse, pipe organ with June Miller, and conducting with Dr. O. Richard Bundy, Dr. Anthony Leach, and Pu-Qi Jiang.

As a collaborative pianist and performer, Eric has a rich history as a soloist, pit musician, and accompanist. He currently is the music director, and performs with the Mount Gretna Summer Concert Series, where he oversees vocalists and instrumental combos. He recently was the pianist and music director for a new workshop production with Broadway Sin Barreras in New York City. His technical expertise extends to pipe organ, which he studied during his undergraduate training.  And he also provides custom arrangements, transcriptions, and rehearsal tracks for professional and student performers.

His background as an educator includes a decade as a staff accompanist at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania, where he accompanied opera workshop and student recitals. He also served as Director of Music and Director of Bands for various school districts, leading ensembles ranging from marching bands to concert choirs. Today, through his private studio, he specializes in coaching adult students and preparing candidates for high-stakes college and professional auditions, with former students appearing in regional, touring, and Broadway roles.