Growing up in Leesburg, Florida, Dr. S. Eric Hawk’s musical career began in early high school as a guitarist and vocalist in an alternative rock band. He enjoyed writing original compositions for any stringed instrument that he could find. After joining the Florida Young Artist Orchestra as a violist, he was inspired by his youth orchestra director, Jonathan May. Mr. May premiered several of his pieces and was a mentor through college. Through their musical bond, Eric knew he wanted to make a career in music.

He received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Composition from the University of Central Florida, where he gained a deeper appreciation for the classical arts. During his undergraduate studies, he took interest in orchestral conducting. While studying viola in Austria, he met maestro Wes Kenney from Colorado State University. For the next two years, he served as CSU’s first assistant conductor and studied opera, completing a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting while on full scholarship for viola performance.

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There, he met his future wife Dawn Dalangin who was his assigned pianist working on her Master of Music degree in Piano Performance. He also taught private strings lessons at her school, the Amadeus Piano Academy. They both decided to complete their doctoral degrees together, receiving full assistantships at the University of Georgia. Dr. Hawk became the Assistant Conductor of UGA's orchestras during his four years of coursework. Returning full circle, he completed a music composition minor (equivalent to the Master's track) and premiered his first symphony as a part of his final degree recital. He received a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree in Orchestral Conducting in 2015.

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From 2014 through 2021, Dr. Hawk served as the Music Director of the Alpharetta Symphony Orchestra and the Alpharetta Youth Symphony Orchestra, which he co-founded with Dawn. Formerly, he was the director of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra Philharmonia for 5 years, has served as adjunct faculty as an orchestra director at Agnes Scott College, and taught orchestra and general music to elementary through high school students at Fulton Science Academy Private School.

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In 2018, he opened Hawk Music Academy with Dawn, a music school in Cumming, Georgia where he currently teaches all instruments, composition, theory and aural skills. Hawk Music Academy has over 500 students and recently moved into a state of the art facility where he and Dawn are working on building a Suzuki program.

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Additionally in 2021, the Hawks created the Symphony Orchestra of North Georgia (SONG), a non-profit community organization, with three ensembles to provide opportunities for youths through adults in the north Atlanta area. Dr. Hawk currently serves as the music director for all three groups.

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​Dr. Hawk is a passionate composer and continues to write solo, chamber, and orchestral works for various occasions. Eric loves his baby, Lilu, five labradors, and films.