Eric Marchwinski

Since graduating from Berklee, where he majored in music production and engineering (MP&E), Eric Marchwinski ‘10, an in-demand lighting programmer, lighting director, video programmer, and associate lighting designer, has toured the globe with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Usher, Pearl Jam, Bon Jovi, and Beyoncé. He founded Earlybird Design Inc. and sister-company Earlybird Visual, a collective of programmers, designers, and 3-D artists providing design support services for the entertainment industry—including events for Oprah and the NBA.

Career highlights include working on the spectacular Katy Perry halftime show at the 49th Super Bowl, the capstone of a world tour for which Marchwinski estimates he spent 15 hours a day for nine weeks working with the video team. Asked to explain his role in layman’s terms, Marchwinski says, “I play with hundreds of robots all at once. You make a giant list of the show and what you want the lights to do in each one of those queues.” He automates the show down to the millisecond, and for huge productions, many man-hours are spent in preparation of programming. “It’s a giant network, and everything needs to communicate,” he says.

“If I didn’t go to Berklee, I’m confident that my career path would not be this great, maybe not as accelerated either,” Marchwinski says. “You’re right in the middle of all the action, and that breeds a sense of independence. Regardless of what my degree says, learning how to collaborate with people, learning how to work on a team, and learning how to be creative were the most valuable parts of my Berklee experience.”