Erika Ji

Biography

Erika is a cross-genre composer-storyteller who loves soaring melodies, dream worlds, and stories that challenge our preconceptions about what is true, good, or worth wanting. Her work has premiered at places like Lincoln Center and the Public Theater, and been supported by folks like the National Music Theater Conference, the National Alliance for Musical Theater, and the New York Foundation for the Arts.

Recent projects: Yoko's Husband's Killer's Japanese Wife, Gloria (with Brandy Hoang Collier and Clare Fuyuko Bierman; 5th Avenue Theatre Commission 2021, Civilians R&D 2022, NAMT Grant 2023, Orchard Project 2023, O’Neill National Music Theater Conference 2023, NAMT Festival 2023, Rhinebeck 2024, MAP Grant 2024, Theater Latté Da Workshop 2024, Johnny Mercer Writers Grove 2025), VISARE (with Bierman; New Voices Winner 2021, Vivace Award Nomination 2021), Starsong (with Andrew Strano; Rattlestick 2021, Sound Bites 2023), [untitled hat project] (with Bierman; NYFA Grant 2021), four; interwoven (NMTP Commission 2023, DiMenna Center 2025), Searching for My Parents (with Bierman and Collier; NYSCA Artist Grant 2025).

As a conductor, pianist, accordionist, and vocalist, Erika has performed on national TV for CBS Sunday Morning and on Broadway with Cabaret and Kimberly Akimbo, and she music-directed Virgin’s ship-wide immersive experience Scarlet Night.

2025 Millay & Jentel Artist, 2024 Helene Wurlitzer Foundation Artist, 2023 Kimmel Harding Nelson Center Artist, 2022 Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriter, 2021 MFA from NYU Tisch GMTWP.

The proud daughter of Chinese immigrants, Erika grew up in California, studied computer science & philosophy at Stanford, and built products at Dropbox before deciding to follow the music.