Associate Director for Religious & Spiritual Life
Phone: 847-491-7256
Email: e-budzynski@northwestern.edu
Eric Budzynski '01 has been a part of the Northwestern family for nearly 15 years as a proud Bienen alum and Student Affairs staff member. In his current role at Northwestern University, he designs, implements, and assesses programming for spiritual well-being, including teaching curricula in mindfulness and hosting a weekly meditation community. Eric is a Spiritual Director & Certified Teacher of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and has been trained at the Spiritual Guidance Training Institute, University of California San Diego, University of Massachusetts, Shambhala Mountain Center, & Zen Life & Meditation Center (Chicago). He has been exploring the benefit of contemplative practices for the past two decades and has spent over 45 days in silent retreat.
As a musician, Eric is a frequently sought after organist and accompanist throughout the Chicago area. He is the Organist and Music Associate of Alice Millar Chapel at Northwestern University. Previously he has served as Organist of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church (Chicago) and Director of Music for The Church of Saint Paul and the Redeemer (Chicago) and The Parish Church of Saint Luke (Evanston, IL). He holds the MMus in Church Music and Organ degree with honors from Northwestern University and the BM cum laude in Organ Performance from Duquesne University.
As a recitalist he has been featured in many venues including National & Regional AGO Conventions, Holy Name Cathedral Music Series, Music Institute of Chicago, and Fourth Presbyterian Church (Chicago). Eric has served as resident/guest organist at St. Paul’s Cathedral (London), Christ Church (Oxford), and The American Cathedral (Paris). He is a recipient of the Jean Langlais Award for Excellence in Sacred Music and took first prize in the Violette Cassel Organ Competition and the Pittsburgh AGO Competition.
Eric has appeared as organist with Elmhurst Symphony, Millar Brass, Music of the Baroque, Northwestern University Symphony Orchestra (featured soloist), and Bach Week Evanston and can be heard at the harpsichord in Apollo Chorus’ Messiah on Clarion Records. As a composer, Eric is published by Church Publishing and his compositions have been performed at The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, Northwestern University, Fourth Presbyterian Church (Chicago), and St. James Cathedral (Chicago).
Outside of work, Eric is an America’s Test Kitchen devotee, video game enthusiast, and a woeful, but willing, cribbage partner.