Musician 1st Class Erika Loke
Horn
Musician 1st Class Erika Loke grew up in Thousand Oaks, CA. She holds a Bachelor of Music from the University of Southern California, a Master of Music from Wichita State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Maryland, all in horn performance. Her teachers include Louise MacGillivray, Dr. Steven Gross, James Thatcher, Dr. Kristy Morrell, Dr. Nicholas Smith, Gregory Miller, and Philip Munds.
Loke has performed extensively throughout the greater D.C. area with ensembles including the Baltimore Symphony, Washington Concert Opera, Alexandria Symphony and Fairfax Symphony. She has been a contributing artist with the International Horn Society at several symposiums and has served as the Military Matters editor for The Horn Call journal. As a proponent of new music, she enjoys performing works by living American composers and commissioned two works for the Wagner tuba and one for horn and electronics. Loke has also recorded the world’s first album of music for horn and fixed media electronics, “Alien Loop de Loops.” Prior to living on the east coast, Loke played second horn with the Wichita Symphony and as a member of the Lieurance Woodwind Quintet. As an undergraduate, she played third horn with the YMF Debut Orchestra and actively participated in the USC Thornton Music Outreach Program. During her undergraduate and master programs, Loke participated in summer music festivals including Aspen, Sarasota, Banff, Kendall Betts Horn Camp, and CCM Spoleto.
In 2016, Loke auditioned and was selected for assignment to the U.S. Naval Academy Band. Following recruit training at RTC, Great Lakes, she reported for duty as French horn instrumentalist with the marching Band and ceremonial units, wind ensemble, brass ensemble and brass quintet. Her collateral duties include serving as the band’s IT Manager, Brass Ensemble Leading Petty Officer, Minor Property Manager, and Morale Wellness and Recreation Assistant. At the command level, she serves as the USNA Advisor for Pregnancy and Parenting Leading Petty Officer
Loke’s awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards), the Navy Good Conduct Medal, the Armed Forces Service Medal, and the Military Outstanding Volunteer Medal.
