Eric DeLamarter

Who was Eric DeLamarter?

Eric DeLamarter was an American composer and classical organist.

He was the child of Dr. Louis and Mary B. DeLamarter, and went to Albion College.

He served as assistant conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra from 1918 to 1933 and from 1933 to 1936 he served as their associate conductor. He was also an uncredited orchestra conductor in the 1946 film "Humoresque".

Among his pupils was Leon Stein.

Eric DeLamarter was a composer, church organist and music critic of "Interocean." He was also a close friend and adviser to Leo Sowerby as well as a champion of Sowerby's music. DeLamarter aided Sowerby in his becoming an accomplished organist. In 1915 he was organist at the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago, IL. The following year he commissioned and gave the premiere performance of Sowerby's Comes Autumn Time.

The Lila Acheson Wallace Library of The Juilliard School has several of his holographs as well as printed items. The University of Michigan Library holds the holograph of his organ concerto and a number of printed items.