Erica Nygård, born in Malax, began her flute studies at the Legato Music Institute, and later continued at the Tampere Conservatory and at the Sibelius Academy. She completed her soloist diploma in the spring of 2006 with excellent grades, and in 2008 she completed her masters degree in music. During 2005 she was an exchange student in the Hague in the Netherlands.
Alongside her work as an orchestra musician, Nygård graduated in Church Music at Novia University of Applied Sciences in 2018. She has complemented her studies with master classes in both flute and organ playing for Jeanne Baxtresser and Ton Koopman among others.
Nygård has performed in many Finnish symphony orchestras. She holds the position of principal flute in Vaasa City Orchestra, and has previously also been temporary principal in Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.
Nygård currently acts as part time cantor in Vörå parish, with Maxmo as her main place of work, alongside her job in the orchestra.
As a chamber musician and soloist, Nygård often gives concerts, and has performed in Finland and abroad. She is one of the founding members of Ensemble Transparent, who in 2020 released an album with music composed specifically for that ensemble. Together with Niels Burgmann she forms a flute and organ duo. This duo released its debut album "Momentum" on the label Alba. Nygård has also recorded for radio and TV. In 2011 she received a one year working grant from Svenska kulturfonden, and in 2018 she received the Malax municipality culture award. In 2020 she was awarded the Jakobsson Grant for unprejudiced and active engagement in different forms of music.
