Eric Anderson

Eric enjoyed music from a very young age. While his father was stationed in Germany, serving in the Air
Force, at age 3, Eric chose a toy guitar out of all the toys at German toy store. Both his great-grandfather
and grandfather played the fiddle. Although he never heard his grandparents play, Eric decided to keep
the tradition going. By age 9, Eric started playing violin in school while living in Omaha, Nebraska. His
family moved back to California in 1977 and resided in Orangevale. Eric’s junior high school orchestra
teacher taught the class “The Orange Blossom Special” and “The Went Down to Georgia” in which he
gravitated towards the fiddling in each of these songs. While at a craft fair, his mom discovered the
California State Old-Time Fiddlers’ Association. Eric enjoyed hearing the fiddlers at one of the monthly
jam sessions and instantly became a member of the California State Old Time Fiddlers (CSOTFA) at age
13. Eric is a Lifetime Member of CSTOFA Dist. 5 and its current vice president. He has also been the
CSOTFA’s president. Each year, while in high school, he performed musicals with the school orchestra.
Even while serving in the Marine Corps, Eric would find any opportunity he could to compete in a
contest. In fact, he competed at the Western Open Fiddle Contest the day after graduating boot camp.
Eric has won numerous California State Fiddle Championships: Men’s, Young Adult, Adult, and 2012
Open State Champion. Eric also placed 5 th in the National Adult Division. He is the 2025 & 2026
California State Adult Fiddle Champion, 2026 California State Open Flatpicking Champion, and the 2025
Western Open Senior Fiddle Champion. On guitar, Eric accompanies many of the competing
contestants. He has judged numerous state and national fiddle and picking contests.

Eric is from Lincoln, CA and shares his enjoyment of music to all ages while teaching fiddle, guitar, and
mandolin for the past 30 years. He is a former member of The Piney Creek Weasels (an Old-Time string
band) and currently plays fiddle for The Cripple Creek Band (a Southern Rock, Country and Americana
style band). Eric has over 40 students and performs many shows throughout the year. He has recorded
seven albums and four singles. Eric has performed with the American River Junior College Orchestra,
Capital Christian Center’s Singing Christmas Tree, and Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church’s Easter and
Christmas presentations.

Eric is a Boy Scout Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 160 based in Lincoln and enjoys hiking and camping
with the troop. He has been training for the past four months in preparation for a 32 mile trek over
seven days at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico.
Eric really enjoys teaching and performing, and it has been an integral part of his life as a musician.
Eric’s goal is to pass on the traditions of these different musical styles onto his students to give them an
appreciation and love for music.