Eric Lechliter is an in-demand professional musician, arranger, and educator based in Cincinnati, OH.

Known for his dedication and contributions to the Cincinnati jazz scene, Eric Lechliter is the Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, Adjunct Professor of Jazz at the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music (CCM), and the founder and director of The Original Farm League Big Band.

As a trumpet and flugelhorn player, Eric gigs frequently around the greater Cincinnati area. He has shared the stage with international recording artists including Jeff Hamilton, Conrad Herwig, John Fedchock, Chris Vadala, Greg Gisbert, Terell Stafford, Byron Stripling, Bobby Broom, Barry Ries, Alex Norris, The Four Tops and the Temptations to name a few. Eric is also well-known in the local Cincinnati scene for championing the EWI and EVI (Electronic Wind Instrument and Electronic Valve Instrument) and frequently intrigues audiences with his performances on both of these instruments.

A prolific arranger/composer, Eric has written nearly 100 compositions and arrangements for jazz big band, among dozens more for small group and other chamber ensembles. His music has been performed by several Tri-State groups of varying genres, including the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Kentucky Symphony Orchestra, The Blue Wisp Big Band, and Schoolhouse Symphony. His big band music has been performed by many local professional and school-aged ensembles, in addition to international performances in Brazil, England, and Norway.

In addition to his playing and writing career he has maintained a busy schedule as a Professor, Jazz clinician, and private teacher. Currently, Eric teaches as an adjunct instructor in the Jazz, Commercial Music Production and Preparatory departments at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). From 2017-2022 he led the Xavier Jazz Orchestra as an adjunct professor at Xavier University.

In 2016, Eric founded The Original Farm League Big Band, an ensemble dedicated to performing original music by living Cincinnati-based composers. In 2019, he began work as the Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, where he has led the organization to new heights, frequently selling out performances and captivating local audiences with his engaging stage persona and creative programming.

In 2022, CCJO released its first album We Are the CCJO, which is comprised entirely of Eric’s original compositions and arrangements. The CCJO will release its second album The Nutcracker Remix for the 2025 holiday season, an album which includes some of Eric’s most popular arrangements of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker melodies.

Eric received a Bachelor’s degree in music education with a Jazz specialization in 2015, and a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies in 2024, both from CCM where he studied with Scott Belck.