Biography
American composer Erich Stem has earned acclaim for music that is, in the words of The Washington Post, “sophisticated and intriguing,” praised by Boston Theatre Review as “unique and beautiful,” and described by New York’s A Closer Listen as exhibiting “a fluent and chaotic exchange that breaks minimalism apart.”
Across concert halls, festivals, and broadcasts worldwide, his works have distinguished him as a composer whose music, described by American Record Guide as “exciting” and “standing above the rest,” continues to captivate listeners through its vivid sense of energy and place. Stem’s music has been performed by ensembles including the Minnesota Orchestra, Richmond Symphony (VA), and the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra, as well as a distinguished range of regional and university orchestras across the nation. His orchestral and chamber works have reached audiences in New York, Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Amsterdam, and Bucharest, appearing on recordings by leading groups including counter)induction, Aurelia Saxophone Quartet, SOLI ChamberEnsemble, and the Juventas New Music Ensemble.
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A visionary project at the core of his career, America By: A Symphonic Tour, reshaped how his orchestral music engaged with place. Through it, a consortium of American orchestras - from Bainbridge Island (WA) to Portland (OR) to the Shenandoah Valley (VA) - commissioned works that tell the stories of their communities through music and film. The series reflects Stem’s deep belief that music can serve as both a mirror and a map of contemporary America. His forthcoming Virginia Beach Symphony, commissioned by Symphonicity, continues that artistic pursuit, transforming the city’s landscapes and histories into an orchestral score where poetry, place, and sound converge. The four-movement work evokes the city’s diverse character, capturing the spirit of its oceanfront, the energy of its Town Center, the quiet beauty of rural Pungo, and the enduring strength of its military legacy, while drawing on the words of Pulitzer Prize poet Claudia Emerson. The symphony’s world premiere at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts in 2025 will coincide with a recording and a series of permanent listening installations placed throughout the city, allowing visitors to encounter the music in the environments that inspired it.
Stem’s collaborative spirit extends to works such as Shenandoah, an orchestral piece with dance film featuring Louisville Ballet artist Ashley Thursby, and Kayak for percussion and orchestra, written for National Symphony Orchestra percussionist Scott Christian. His Solo Series continues this exploration of personal narrative through concertos, including Firefly for E-flat Clarinet and Wind Symphony, premiered by Backun artist Carrie RavenStem. Dedicated to expanding the reach of contemporary music, Stem founded New Dynamic Records, a label that released the music of sixty living composers and brought forty-two premiere recordings to life. He went on to co-found and direct A/Tonal Ensemble, a group devoted to bridging contemporary voices with the classical canon. A sought-after educator, Stem is Associate Professor of Music Composition at Indiana University Southeast and has been on faculty with the Alba Music Festival in Italy and the Nextet Series at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as well as with the Indiana University cohort of scholars at the Eastman House Residency on Martha’s Vineyard.
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