Ericka Tyner Grodrian is an Instructor of Music at Valparaiso University, where she teaches applied horn, musicianship and introduction to music. Currently finishing her final project for the Doctor of Music degree in Brass Pedagogy from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, her research focuses on the role of opera excerpts in recent American horn pedagogy. Before coming to Indiana, Ericka served as the Instructor of Horn at Converse College, her undergraduate alma mater. She also holds a Master of Music degree from the University of Alabama.

In the summer of 2010 Ericka placed first in her division at the Susan Slaughter International Solo Brass Competition in Toronto, Ontario. Also a past winner of the Southeast Horn Workshop Horn Quartet Competition, she enjoys chamber music collaborations and most recently appeared with the Indiana University Associate Instructor Brass Quintet and the Nuova Wind Quintet. Other musical experiences include summers in residence at the Performing Arts Institute, a European tour with the Converse Woodwind Quintet, a solo appearance with the Foothills Philharmonic Orchestra, and participation at the Brevard Music Festival. As an orchestral hornist, she has performed with the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, Owensboro Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, the Columbus (IN) Symphony, the Camerata Orchestra, the Bloomington Pops Orchestra, the Spartanburg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, and the Heritage Chamber Orchestra.  

Away from the horn, Ericka enjoys cooking, knitting funky scarves and watching football with her husband, John.