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Music grad student killed in car crash
By Francis Petruziello
The Cleveland State University Music Department lost one of its students on June 20, when Eric David Drotning, 24, of Lakewood died in an automobile accident.
Drotning earned an undergraduate degree in percussion performance at St. Olaf College and a graduate degree in percussion performance at Cleveland State.
Drotning was the section leader of the pit percussion for the Blue Devil Drum and Bugle Corps and was the principle percussionist in the orchestra and band at St. Olaf College.
Drotning is survived by his wife Helen Pickering-Drotning and his parents, William and Christine Drotning.
Drotning owned a private percussion studio, was the principle percussionist for the Youngstown Symphony and was involved in orchestras in Ohio and West Virginia.
Drotning was also active at his church, Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Cleveland Heights where he was heavily involved with its music program.
Drotning was buried at Coon Prairie Cemetery in Wisconsin.
St. Olaf College held a memorial for him on June 25 in the Boe Memorial Chapel and Cleveland State held a memorial for him in Waetjen Auditorium on June 29. St. Olaf College has started a memorial scholarship in music in memorium of his [Drotning] passing.