Meet Eric Giles | Classical Musician & Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eric Giles and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eric, do you have any habits that you feel contribute to your effectiveness?
I think one of the most important habits to have is always having a strong vision/goal in mind. It can be hard to go through a process if you do not know exactly what you want out of it. Me being a classical musician and working through academia can be daunting and can seem pointless. Without having clear goals in mind, I would have stopped a long time ago.

With that being said, we have to always be adaptable to a constantly changing situation. There are going to be bumps in the road everywhere and you have to find ways to work around situations.

Lastly, I have found that not taking myself so seriously 24/7 has helped me so much! You can still hold yourself to high standards and work hard but, people will want to work with you because of your personality. Learn to enjoy the process and be patient; Your big break is coming sooner than you think!

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
So currently, I am a Teaching Assistant at the University of North Texas in music as well as an applied instructor at Dallas College North Lake. The process of working in the classical music industry is not one for the faint of heart. The work can be grueling with sometimes little to no payout. For me one of the biggest issues was a lack of representation in the classical music industry. For the longest time, I was discouraged because I never saw anyone who looked like me playing in a orchestra or teaching at conservatories. This was tough because I felt like I was working so hard to enter a space/career where I did not fit. I changed that doubt into confidence and decided that I want to make a large impact on the field and inspire others who look like me to go after their dreams.

Getting to where I am today took a lot of work. I have studied music intensely for close to a decade now and still I feel like I have a ways to go. There is really not a way to judge your work other than to keep track of your day to day progress. It is very common in my field to hear thousands of No’s before you get that one yes. So I have had to keep my moral high by finding relaxing hobbies outside of music. I also have a part of me that wants to be self made and create my own path to success. I started a classical music ensemble(Shades Wind Quintet LLC) with four of my best friends and we run the organization together. With this we are able to enjoy our craft and use the ensemble to as a vehicle to travel and perform.

Lastly, around the middle of the pandemic I decided to really dig into my passion for fashion. Ever since I can remember I have always been a very fashionable person and have loved the idea of getting dressed to go out. I have always been a bit self conscious about putting myself out there but I decided to just go for it. It has truly been a fun process working to grow my presence online. I am just in the beginning stages but I truly love being able to share my love for mens style on Instagram!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The first spot we are hitting up in the city is The Woolworth in downtown Dallas. Great food in the heart of downtown Dallas with one of the best views of that massive eyeball! While downtown we might as well hit up the Dallas Museum of Art as well as the sculpture park nearby I love the vibes of this area and Clyde Warren Park is incredible as well! After we have walked off our food, we will hit up the Bishop Arts district for some Eno’s Pizza. This is some of the best pizza in the city!! To end the evening HG supply in Lower Greenville has great drinks and a great view of the Dallas skyline.

Legacy West is a must see in Plano and has some incredible food and shopping. Speaking of shopping, my favorite mall that I have been to just happens to be NorthPark Center. They have such an incredible mix of high end boutiques as well as fast fashion retailers.

Many of the suburbs have incredible things to do as well. Grandscape in the colony is incredible with its massive Ferris wheel and gorgeous outdoor areas. If you find your way out in Denton, you have to check out the square and all of its lovely local shops and restaurants. If you are into Thai food, Andaman Thai Restaurant is my favorite Thai place in DFW. Fresh food and great service to match. Ten One Artisanal Cheese in Denton is incredible! Every Wednesday, they have a grilled cheese of the week using different toppings each time. It is amazing!!

Other great spots:
True Leaf Studio(Denton)
Texas Motor Speedway
Stockyards(Fort Worth)
Dallas Farmer’s Market(Downtown Dallas)
Trinity Groves

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would have no success without the support of my parents. My mom and dad have supported me through thick and thin and I hope someday that I can repay them for all that they have done. They helped put me through two degrees and made sure I stayed focused. They are the absolute best and I am so grateful to have them!

Website: ericoboegiles.com

Instagram: @eric_giles_

Image Credits
Bryan Canonigo Chris Campbell Joshua Partridge Nola Preston