“One of the best fiddlers in Maine … the kind of musician who gives musicians a good name.”
Darol Anger, world-renowned fiddler, composer, producer and educator
“For the music of her heritage and her age, there’s no one any better.”
Don Roy, Franco-American champion fiddler and violin maker
“It does my heart good to see the fiddling tradition being carried on so well, and by such a polite, sweet young lady…”
Fred Carpenter, Fiddler and owner of The Violin Shop, Nashville, TN
“Her talent for combining the precision of classical music with the spontaneity of country and bluegrass fiddle makes for a fun-filled performance every time she plays.”
Bangor Daily News
Erica developed an interest in music at an early age. At the age of seven, Erica was competing in fiddle contests with kids twice her age. At age nine, she was traveling throughout New England, Canada, and even Louisiana with the Maine French Fiddlers. As a teenager, Erica also performed as a special guest with Mac McHale And The Old-Time Radio Gang for five years. Currently, she has her own bluegrass band, Erica Brown & The Bluegrass Connection, which performs all over New England. Erica also performs with her husband Matt Shipman in a duo called Darlin’ Corey as well as Side By Each and Josephine County.
Erica was a member of the Bates College “Fighting Bobcats” Orchestra for five years (8th-12th grade) and was a member of the Maine All-State Music Festival for two years. She has competed in and won numerous fiddle contests throughout New England and Canada. In 2003 she was awarded Junior Female Entertainer Of The Year by the Maine Country Music Association and in 2006 she received the Harold Carter Memorial Award from the Down East Country Music Association. Erica was a recipient of a 2006 Maine Arts Commission Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Award and was recognized as a Master Artist by the Maine Arts Commission that same year.
Performance highlights include opening for Grammy award winning country music superstar, Dwight Yoakam, as well as Grammy award winning bluegrass performer, Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder and collaborations with both the Portland Symphony Orchestra and Bangor Symphony Orchestra.
Erica has also been a teacher and educator for over 20 years. She has a strong desire to share her knowledge with anyone who has an interest in music and the fiddle. In 2016 she and her husband, Matt Shipman opened a teaching studio in her Portland, ME home called Darlin’ Corey Studios where they hold private lessons and ensembles to people of all ages and abilities.