Erika R. Gamez is a NYC-based conductor, music director, keyboardist, and educator. As a music director and conductor, her work has spanned across the US in regional theaters and major touring houses, performing a wide range of styles and with artists of all levels.

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A proud Xicana from Central California, Erika relocated to San Diego to pursue a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from SDSU on a full-ride scholarship, studying under Dr. Shannon Kitelinger (UNT, Eugene Corporon). While in San Diego, she premiered two new musicals as music director for Luann comic strip creator Greg Evans, music directed a local production of Little Women, and conducted academic wind ensembles in concert year-round.

Erika worked closely with Broadway alum Rob Meffe as his rehearsal accompanist and pianist for SDSU’s productions of James and the Giant Peach and She Loves Me. In 2019, Erika music directed the project ALLEGORY as part of La Jolla Playhouse’s 2019 WOW Festival under the direction of Forbes Magazine’s 30 under 30 Sammi Cannold and Fiddler on the Roof in Singapore director Emily Maltby and their composer Hamilton alum Ari Afsar.

Erika wrapped her first national tour as MD/Key 1 for SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL in 2022. After a successful run as MD/Key 1 for ON YOUR FEET! at the John W. Engeman Theater, she was brought in to rehearse the 2nd national tour of ON YOUR FEET! with director Luis Salgado and their music supervisor Miami Sound Machine's Clay Ostwald.

In 2023, Erika made her Off-Broadway debut as Associate MD/Key 2 for THE HARDER THEY COME at The Public Theater, a new musical adaptation based on the 1972 film. She has since music directed a production of AIDA with STAGES St. Louis and NEXT TO NORMAL at Greenbrier Valley Theatre.

Erika graduated with her M.M. in Wind Conducting from San Diego State University and holds a B.A. in Instrumental Music Education from Fresno State. She is an alumna brother of Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and an honorary sister of Tau Beta Sigma National Honorary Band Sorority. Erika is a proud member of Local 802 AFM.

Gamez currently resides in Manhattan with her partner composer Andrew Esquer, a recent NYU alum with a Master of Music in Screen Scoring and music director.