Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick is an active soloist, chamber musician and specialist in contemporary music on the faculty at California Institute of the Arts. She has performed in premieres of solo and chamber works throughout the US, Central and South America, and Europe with appearances at New Music America, the Manca Festival in Nice, Ars Electronica in Linz, the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival, the Computer Music Festival in Zurich, Tanglewood, Aspen, and Ravinia festivals, and the San Francisco Symphony "New and Unusual Music" series.

Ms. Kirkpatrick has had works written especially for her by major composers including Mel Powell, Alvin Lucier, Elliott Carter, and Morton Subotnick, with whom she has toured and recorded since 1981. She has recorded for Nonesuch, Wergo, New Albion, Voyager, and Cold Blue records.

She a founding member of the California E.A.R. Unit, a Los Angeles-based new music ensemble, with whom she tours throughout the U.S. and Europe. She has also given master classes and recitals under the auspices of the U.S.I.A. Arts America Program in Central and South America. A native of Los Angeles, her principal studies were with Cesare Pascarella and she has been coached by Mischa Schneider, William Pleeth and Pierre Fournier.