On July 6, 2010, Erik Ralske was featured on the front page of The New York Times, for having won principal horn positions with both the Metropolitan Opera and Los Angeles Philharmonic during the same week. Ultimately, he chose to remain in New York and accepted Maestro James Levine’s invitation to play Principal Horn at the MET. Prior to joining the MET Orchestra, Mr. Ralske was a member of the New York Philharmonic for 17 seasons—12 years as Third Horn and later, approximately 5 years as Acting Associate Principal. Other previous positions include Associate Principal with the Houston Symphony Orchestra and Principal Horn with the Vancouver Symphony, Florida Symphony, and Tulsa Philharmonic Orchestras.

During his tenure with the New York Philharmonic, Mr. Ralske has been a soloist withthe orchestra over a dozen times with Music Directors Kurt Masur and Lorin Maazel, in New York as well as on tour in Europe and South America.

Mr. Ralske is a very active as a chamber musician. He has performed with The MET Chamber Players at Carnegie Hall, The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, the New York Philharmonic Ensembles, the Music Academy of the West, as well as the La Jolla, Seattle, Vancouver, and Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festivals.

Currently, he is on the faculty of the Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, andMannes College of Music. He received both his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School.