Eric Sammut was born in Toulouse, France, where he studied piano and percussion and became known for his musical abilities at an early age. His varied musical experiences have led him to appreciate music of all genres, from that of Bach and Mozart to jazz and rock. After his studies at the Conservatoire Superieur de Musique de Lyon he became the First Percussionist at the Opera.



Biography:

Eric Sammut began his musical education by studying the piano, and later attended percussion classes with Michel Ventula at the National Regional Conservatory (NRC) in Toulouse.



In 1989, the same year that Eric Sammut received a unanimous first prize as a student of François Dupin and Georges Van Gucht, Sammut, became Principal Percussionist with the Orchestre de l'Opéra National de Lyon. In 1995, Eric Sammut won the Leigh Howard Stevens International Marimba Competition and then toured the United States, Europe, and Asia performing concerts and conducting master classes.



In 1996, Eric Sammut began teaching marimba in Toulouse as well as at the NRC in Paris and the Royal Academy of London, in addition to being Principal Percussionist with the Orchestre de Paris. As a composer, Eric Sammut has composed solo works for marimba as well as ensembles, which are published in France, Norway, Japan, and the United States.



After participating in numerous cd and video productions with the Orchestre du Capitole de Toulouse, Orchestre National de Bordeaux Aquitaine, Orchestre National de l'Opera de Lyon, and Orchestre de Paris, Eric Sammut produced his first solo recording for marimba entitled Four-Mallet Ballet (2005).



A new cd recording Mirages was released in 2008 with such artists as Philippe Berrod, Eric Echampard and David Patrois, and the Quintet of the Orchestre de Paris.