Violinist Erik Carlson has performed as a soloist chamber musician throughout Europe and the Americas. He is a highly active performer of contemporary music and has had works written for him by numerous composers, including Pauline Oliveros, Georges Aperghis, Kunsu Shim, Jürg Frey, Peter Ablinger, Charles Wuorinen, and Tom Johnson. Carlson is an enthusiastic proponent of interdisciplinary collaboration, and performs frequently with dancers, poets, and film.

Carlson's past and present ensemble memberships include the International Contemporary Ensemble, the Talea Ensemble, the Trinity Bach Players, the New York Miniaturist Ensemble (of which he was the founder) and the Theatre of Eternal Music String Ensemble. He has been featured on many recordings, which include violin concertos of Antoine Beuger and Aldo Clementi, chamber music of Christopher Otto and Eva-Maria Houben, and solo works of Catherine Lamb and Zoltán Jeney. Also a composer, Carlson has had his musical compositions performed in a wide variety of venues.