Eric Piekara is currently the Principal Timpanist of the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra. He previously held positions with the Kansai Philharmonic Orchestra and Hyogo Performing Arts Center Orchestra. He has been a guest timpanist with the Yomiuri Symphony, Kanagawa Philharmonic, Tokyo New City Orchestra, and Ensemble Kanazawa. Outside of Japan, he has performed with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Malaysian Philharmonic, Orchestra Macao, Orchestre national d'Île de France, Lyon National Opera, and Bremen Kammerphilharmonie. He was a member of the PMF Academy in 2003, then served as principal with the PMF Orchestra JAPAN in 2021. This year he returns to serve as a PMF Section Leader.