Derrick Skye (born Derrick Spiva Jr; 19 November 1982) is a composer, conductor, musician, and educator based in the Los Angeles area who often integrates musical practices from cultures around the world in his work with classical music communities. The ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'' has described Skye's music as "something to savor" and "enormous fun to listen to."

The Times ''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...

(London) described Skye’s music as “deliciously head-spinning.”

Career

Educated at

University of California, Los Angeles The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA's academic roots were established in 1881 as a teachers college then known as the southern branch of the California St ...

and

California Institute of the Arts The California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) is a private art university in Santa Clarita, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the US created specifically for students of both ...

, Skye studied classical music as a student of Ian Krouse,

Paul Chihara Paul Seiko Chihara (born July 9, 1938) is an American composer. Life and career Chihara was born in Seattle, Washington in 1938. A Japanese American, he spent three years of his childhood with his family in an internment camp in Minidoka, Idah ...

David Rosenboom David Rosenboom (born 1947 in Fairfield, Iowa) is a composer-performer, interdisciplinary artist, author, and educator known for his work in American experimental music. Rosenboom has explored various forms of music, languages for improvisation, ...

and

Alex Shapiro Alex Shapiro (born January 11, 1962) is a composer of acoustic and electroacoustic music favoring combinations of modal harmonies with chromatic ones, and often emphasizing strong pulse and rhythm. Shapiro was born in New York City. She was e ...

, while also studying percussion with Randy Gloss, Persian music theory with Pirayeh Pourafar, Balkan music theory with Tzvetanka Varimezova, tala in Hindustani classical music with Swapan Chaudhuri and West African music and dance with Kobla Ladzekpo, Beatrice Lawluvi, and Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole. Skye's compositional works often incorporate musical elements from different cultural traditions into contemporary classical music contexts. His works have been performed and/or commissioned by the

Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra The Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) is an American chamber orchestra based in Los Angeles, California. LACO presents its Orchestral Series concerts at two venues, the Alex Theatre in Glendale and UCLA's Royce Hall. History James Arkatov, a ...

London Philharmonic Orchestra The London Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) is one of five permanent symphony orchestras based in London. It was founded by the conductors Sir Thomas Beecham and Malcolm Sargent in 1932 as a rival to the existing London Symphony and BBC Symphony ...

Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra (NedPhO; nl, Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest) is a Dutch symphony orchestra based in Amsterdam. History The NedPhO was formed in 1985 from the merger of three orchestras: the Amsterdam Philharmonic Orchestr ...

National Arts Centre Orchestra The National Arts Centre Orchestra (NAC Orchestra) is a Canadian orchestra based in Ottawa, Ontario led by music director Alexander Shelley. The NAC Orchestra's primary concert venue is Southam Hall at the National Arts Centre. Since its inceptio ...

(Canada),

Chicago Sinfonietta The Chicago Sinfonietta is an American orchestra based in Chicago, Illinois. It is nationally and internationally acclaimed as a cultural leader and a powerful advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion and is renowned for its groundbreaking, d ...

Albany Symphony Orchestra The Albany Symphony Orchestra is a professional symphony orchestra based in Albany, New York. Founded in 1930 as the People's Orchestra of Albany by Italian-born conductor John Carabella, the Albany Symphony is the oldest professional symphony ...

Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra The Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra (DPO) is a fully professional musical group in Dayton, Ohio, formed in 1933. It is a member of the League of American Orchestras (LAO) and the Regional Orchestra Players' Association (ROPA), and presents programs ma ...

Berkeley Symphony Berkeley most often refers to: *Berkeley, California, a city in the United States **University of California, Berkeley, a public university in Berkeley, California *George Berkeley (1685–1753), Anglo-Irish philosopher Berkeley may also refer t ...

, Orchestra Santa Monica,

Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is an American orchestra based in the city of Rochester, New York. Its primary concert venue is the Eastman Theatre at the Eastman School of Music. History George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak Company ...

Lian Ensemble Lian Ensemble is a Persian classical music ensemble based in Los Angeles, California, USA. History The Lian Ensemble was established in 1996 by Pirayeh Pourafar, Houman Pourmehdi. The group has performed throughout the U.S. and internationally. ...

, Los Angeles Electric 8,

Lincoln Center Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (also simply known as Lincoln Center) is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has thirty indoor and outdoor facilities and is host to 5 millio ...

, The

Juilliard School The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Established in 1905, the school trains about 850 undergraduate and graduate students in dance, drama, and music. It is widely regarded as one of the most el ...

Vijay Gupta Robert Vijay Gupta (born 1987) is a violinist, and advocate for social justice. He is a 2018 recipient of the MacArthur "Genius" Grant. Early life (Robert) Vijay Gupta was born in 1987 and grew up in the mid-Hudson Valley of New York, near Po ...

Blake Pouliot Blake Pouliot (born January 31, 1994) is a Canadian-born professional classical violinist. He studied at The Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and the Colburn School in Los Angeles. His debut CD was nominated for a 2019 Canadian Classical M ...

, Superdevoiche (Bulgarian Women's Choir), EXIGENCE,

Los Angeles Master Chorale The Los Angeles Master Chorale is a professional chorus in Los Angeles, California, and one of the resident companies of both The Music Center and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. It was founded in 1964 by Roger Wagner to be one of the t ...

Conspirare Conspirare is a choral ensemble based in Austin, Texas. They were formed in 1991 by conductor and musical director Craig Hella Johnson as New Texas Festival but did not begin to regularly perform until 1999. They have released over 25 albums and ...

The Cecilia Chorus of New York The Cecilia Chorus of New York, formerly known as the St. Cecilia Chorus, is an avocational chorus and nonprofit organization based in New York City. With a membership of approximately 180 singers, the chorus performs twice annually at Carnegie Hal ...

, Lyris Quartet,

Miró Quartet The Miró Quartet is an internationally performing professional classical string quartet based in Austin, Texas. The group is the Quartet-in-Residence at the University of Texas and its members are on the faculty of the Butler School of Music. It ...

, Formosa Quartet, Salastina Music Society, Juventas New Music Ensemble, Ensemble Connect, and other groups. Rhythm and the embodiment of rhythm through movement is an important theme in Skye's works; he has collaborated with choreographers such as Yeko Ladzekpo-Cole, Mariel McEwan, Sheetal Gandhi, Cynthia Ling Lee, and synchronized swimming champion and international coach

Sue Baross Nesbitt Sue Baross Nesbitt, (born 1954) is an American synchronized swimming champion and international coach. She is currently the head coach with the Riverside Aquettes in Riverside, California Riverside is a city in and the county seat of River ...

. He has been awarded a residency with the

(LACO) through New Music USA's "Music Alive" program for LACO's 2015–2016 season and has released two albums, ''Prisms, Cycles, Leaps'' (2015) and ''American Mirror'' (2018), with Orenda Records. In 2021, Skye was awarded the Prince Grace Honoraria in the Theatre category for his work "Mother of Bravery" with

and "Best New Composition" in the San Francisco Classical Voice Audience Choice Awards for his work "Mind the Rhythm" for violin and electronics. Skye has given talks, workshops, and pre-concert lectures about his musical practices at the Homeland Cultural Center],

Skirball Cultural Center The Skirball Cultural Center, founded in 1996, is a Jewish educational institution in Los Angeles, California. The center, named after philanthropist-couple Jack H. Skirball and Audrey Skirball-Kenis, features a museum with regularly changing e ...

Royce Hall Royce Hall is a building on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Designed by the Los Angeles firm of Allison & Allison (James Edward Allison, 1870–1955, and his brother David Clark Allison, 1881–1962) and completed ...

(UCLA),

Alex Theatre The Alex Theatre is a landmark located at 216 North Brand Boulevard in Glendale, California, United States. It is currently owned by the city of Glendale and operated by Glendale Arts. The theater’s capacity is 1,400. Architecture The Alex The ...

Los Angeles County Museum of Art The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is an art museum located on Wilshire Boulevard in the Miracle Mile, Los Angeles, California, Miracle Mile vicinity of Los Angeles. LACMA is on Museum Row, adjacent to the La Brea Tar Pits (George C. Pa ...

, and various other schools and institutions. He was asked to speak at the 2016 annual

League of American Orchestras The League of American Orchestras, formerly the American Symphony Orchestra League, is a North American service organization with 700 member orchestras of all budget sizes and types, plus individual and institutional members. Based in New York Ci ...

conference in Baltimore on the topic of how classical music orchestras can build stronger relationships with their diverse communities. In 2019, Skye was a panelist for "New Voices: Composers of Today" at the

conference together with

Daniel Bernard Roumain Daniel Bernard Roumain (known by his initials, DBR; born 1970) is a classically trained composer, performer, violinist, and band-leader, whose work combines classical music with jazz, hip-hop and rock. Composer In September 2010, ''Dancers, Drea ...

, Alex Temple, Evan Williams, Jennifer Jolley. Skye is the artistic director of the chamber ensemble and arts organization Bridge to Everywhere. He is Artistic Advisor and Composer for

. He is also a part of the UpBeat Live series with the

Los Angeles Philharmonic The Los Angeles Philharmonic, commonly referred to as the LA Phil, is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at th ...

, a conductor for Santa Monica Youth Orchestra, and Director of Instrumental Ensembles at Mount Saint Mary’s University. He is a member of the New Music USA Program Council and a board member of the American Composers Forum. During the week of

Juneteenth Juneteenth is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the emancipation of enslaved African Americans. Deriving its name from combining "June" and "nineteenth", it is celebrated on the anniversary of General Order No. 3, i ...

2021, Skye formally changed his name from Derrick Spiva Jr to Derrick Senam Eugene Skye, which was featured in a

article. Skye is the son of Artra Howard-Brant, and nephew of Mattina Howard,

Sherri Howard Sherri Frances Howard (born June 1, 1962) is a former American athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres. She is the older sister of 1988 relay teammate Denean Howard. She competed in the 1980 Olympic trials in the 400m at the age of 16, i ...

and

Denean Howard Denean Elizabeth Howard-Hill (born October 5, 1964) is an American athlete who competed mainly in the 400 metres. At the Olympics she competed as Miss Howard in 1984, as Mrs. Howard-Hill in 1988, and as Mrs. Hill in 1992. She competed for the ...

of the Howard Sisters who won gold and silver medals in track and field at the 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1988 (Seoul) Olympic games. His father, Derrick Spiva Sr, is a lecturer at

San Francisco State University San Francisco State University (commonly referred to as San Francisco State, SF State and SFSU) is a public research university in San Francisco. As part of the 23-campus California State University system, the university offers 118 different b ...

in Africana Studies. He is married to ethnomusicologist Kim Nguyen Tran.

List of works

Opera

* 2022 "Song of the Ambassadors" (electro-acoustic, collaborative artificial intelligence)

Orchestra

* 2003 "Lithe Melodies" * 2005 "Gaea" Saxophone Concerto * 2007 "Vicissitude Variations" * 2011 "Our Being Whole" * 2014 "Prisms, Cycles, Leaps" (Part I of the Prisms, Cycles, Leaps Suite) * 2018 "From Here a Path" (Part II of the Prisms, Cycles, Leaps Suite) * 2019 "To Be A Horizon" (Part III of the Prisms, Cycles, Leaps Suite) * 2020 "Like Water, Freedom” * 2021 "Neither Separated Nor Undone" (Part 6 of "Anthems of a Crowd") for SATB choir and orchestra. * 2021 "Flames Nurtured the Rose" * 2022 "Penta" * 2022 "A Rage of Peace" for orchestra and soprano. * 2022 "We Gather" for orchestra and electronics.

Wind ensemble

* 2000 "Apollo's Prayer" * 2002 "Apollo's Prayer Reprise" * 2004 "Seraph's Reflection" * 2012 "In Our Hands a Canvas" for Wind Ensemble, Women's Choir, Organ, Electric Guitar. * 2020 “CodeSwitch Mixtape” (co-commission with Conor Abbott Brown) for Wind Ensemble and Electronics. * 2022 “End of Beginning” for Wind Ensemble, Electronics, Electric Guitar.

Choral

* 2005 "Posledna Ljubov" (Last Love) for Bulgarian Women's Choir. * 2007 "Malka Moma Tsvete Brala" for Bulgarian Women's Choir. * 2008 "Prozorets" (The Window) for Bulgarian Women's Choir. * 2010 "Tzvetina Dusha, Vahdat, Davam" for

Tar Tar is a dark brown or black viscous liquid of hydrocarbons and free carbon, obtained from a wide variety of organic materials through destructive distillation. Tar can be produced from coal, wood, petroleum, or peat. "a dark brown or black bit ...

, Daf, Persian Vocals, Bulgarian Women's Choir,

Ney The ''ney'' ( fa, Ney/نی, ar, Al-Nāy/الناي), is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Persian music and Arabic music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. The ney has been played continually ...

. * 2017 "A Vision Unfolding" (Part 1 of "Anthems of a Crowd) for SATB choir. * 2019 "Ready Bright" (Part 4 of "Anthems of a Crowd") for SATB choir. * 2021 "Glimpse Elation" (Part 5 of "Anthems of a Crowd) for SATB choir. * 2021 "Neither Separated Nor Undone" (Part 6 of "Anthems of a Crowd") for SATB choir and orchestra. * 2022 "Black Ocean" (Part 7 of "Anthems of a Crowd") for SATB choir and string quartet. * 2023 "But, We Press On" (co-commission with Ellen Goth) for children’s choir and piano.

Chamber music

* 2002 "Miles of Sun" for violin, flute, bassoon, piano. * 2003 "3 Queens"* electro-acoustic music sound design. * 2003 "September" for flute, oboe, 2 bassoons, marimba, piano, mezzo-soprano, violin, viola, 3 cellos, contrabass. * 2003 "Red Dress" for flute, oboe, 2 bassoons, marimba, piano, violin, viola, 3 cellos, contrabass. * 2003 "Mother's Day" for flute, Bb clarinet, 2 violins, viola, 3 cellos, contrabass, piano, oboe, soprano saxophone, bassoon, marimba, mezzo-soprano. * 2004 "Ciaccona Blue"* for 2 alto saxophones, piano, harp, marimba. * 2004 "Ciaccona Red" for soprano saxophone, Bb trumpet, harp, piano. * 2004 "Dunes"* for solo trombone and string orchestra. * 2004 "Alacrity" for flute, Bb clarinet, 2

tabla A tabla, bn, তবলা, prs, طبلا, gu, તબલા, hi, तबला, kn, ತಬಲಾ, ml, തബല, mr, तबला, ne, तबला, or, ତବଲା, ps, طبله, pa, ਤਬਲਾ, ta, தபலா, te, తబల� ...

, vibes, oboe, bass clarinet, F-horn. * 2005 "Crystal Black" for 3 hands piano, trombone, tenor sax, vibes, percussion. * 2005 "Curious Dances" for flute, Bb clarinet, harp, bassoon, piano, F-horn. * 2005 "Liquescent" for flute, harp, violin, piano, bass, hand clap. * 2005 "Vicissitude" for flute, Bb clarinet, harp, 2 violins, 3 violas, 2 solo Bulgarian female voices, harp, bass, 3 cellos, oboe. * 2005 "ko-Ig'zist" for flute,

harmonium The pump organ is a type of free-reed organ that generates sound as air flows past a vibrating piece of thin metal in a frame. The piece of metal is called a reed. Specific types of pump organ include the reed organ, harmonium, and melodeon. T ...

, violin, acoustic guitar, double bass, tambourine, drum set, hand percussion Bb trumpet, rapper. * 2005 "Twenty-Seven" for trumpet, piano,

, electronics. * 2006 "She Cried" for cello, oboe, violin, horn, tampura drone. * 2006 "Script 44" for trombone, alto sax, Bb clarinet, drum set, bass. * 2006 "Assertion" for brass quintet. * 2007 "Atsia Derivare" for Ewe drum orchestra. * 2007 "In Silver" for flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, violoncello, double bass. * 2007 "Red 4" for flute, oboe, Bb clarinet, bassoon. * 2008 "The Leaf" for 6 or more flutes. * 2012 "Neuron Speak" for Los Angeles Electric 8- electric mandolin, electric baritone guitar, tap guitar, electric bass guitar, and four electric guitars. * 2013 "forming-idioms, mental objects" for woodwind quintet, violins, viola, guitar, contrabass, percussion and piano. * 2016 "From Here a Path" (Part II of Prisms, Cycles, Leaps Suite) for small chamber ensemble. * 2016 "Unveiled this Heart" for small chamber ensemble. * 2017 "From Here a Path (Revised)" (Part II of Prisms, Cycles, Leaps Suite) for small chamber ensemble. * 2018 "Seven Turns" for chamber ensemble. * 2019 "In Sight of Atsia" for chamber ensemble. * 2020 "Mother of Bravery" for chamber ensemble. * 2020 "From Embers" for chamber ensemble. * 2022 "We Begin" for chamber ensemble.

String Quartet

* 2017 "American Mirror" for string quartet. * 2019 "As I Heard When I Was Young" for string quartet and double bass. * 2023 "Deliverance" for string quartet.

Duets and trios

* 2005 "Catena" F-horn, piano. * 2006 "We Spoke"* for violin,

ney The ''ney'' ( fa, Ney/نی, ar, Al-Nāy/الناي), is an end-blown flute that figures prominently in Persian music and Arabic music. In some of these musical traditions, it is the only wind instrument used. The ney has been played continually ...

, and vibraphone. * 2007 "Dragon" 3 Bb clarinets and tampura. * 2008 "Young Orsiris Young Seth" for 2 alto saxophones. * 2008 "Orsiris, Seth & Horus" for Bb clarinet, oboe, flute. * 2009 "Dies Veneris" for harp trio. * 2010 "Quote from a Dream"

tar Tar is a dark brown or black viscous liquid of hydrocarbons and free carbon, obtained from a wide variety of organic materials through destructive distillation. Tar can be produced from coal, wood, petroleum, or peat. "a dark brown or black bit ...

, daf, Persian vocals. * 2013 "Granular Waves" for saxophone and piano. * 2016 "Crossing" for harp trio. * 2020 "Mind the Rhythm" for violin, electronics, and percussion. * 2020 "Yea, We Talked About It" for piano and accordion. * 2022 "Pulse Equilibria" for violin, flute, oboe, and electronics. * 2022 "In Thy Presence, I Melt Them All Away" for cello and piano.

Solos

* 2020 "Hum" for violin, viola, or cello. * 2020 "Chroma Fife and Move" for flute with optional percussion. * 2021 "Woven Gesture Flow" for piano. * 2022 "Old Soul Different Body" for viola and electronics. * 2022 "Harp Hymnal" for harp and electronics. * 2022 "god of the gaps" for violin and electronics.

Music for choreography

* 2005 "Ending After" * 2005 "Rebecca's Piece" * 2006 "Exertion" for Marshall Dance Company * 2006 "Strength" for Eboni Dance Company * 2007 "Sara's Parapluie" * 2007 "Long for the Beginning" for

, cello, tampura. * 2009 "Rupture" * 2010 "Shapes of Recovery" for Kingsley Irons Trio * 2010 "Speaking Voice"* for Ewe drum orchestra * 2011 "Imaginary Friends" for DancesMadetoOrder.com * 2011 "Sanctuary" for DancesMadetoOrder.com * 2011 "Love" Kingsley Irons dance trio for Blankenship Ballet * 2011 "Hello?" for DancesMadetoOrder.com * 2012 "Morning Light" for DancesMadetoOrder.com * 2012 "SuperFine" for DancesMadetoOrder.com * 2012 "Grain"

duduk The duduk ( ; hy, դուդուկ ) or tsiranapogh ( hy, ծիրանափող, meaning “apricot-made wind instrument”), is an ancient Armenian double reed woodwind instrument made of apricot wood. It is indigenous to Armenia. Variations of th ...

, low D tin-whistle, piano. for DancesMadetoOrder.com * 2012 "Convergence" for DancesMadetoOrder.com * 2012 "I have something to tell you" for In/Ex Dance Project * 2013 "Super Ruwaxi: Origins (Revised)" for Cynthia Ling Lee * 2013 "Luck, Hope, and Semi-Madness" for In/Ex Dance Project * 2015 "I Was Just..." and "In, Expiration" for Sheetal Gandhi and Ulka Mohanty * 2017 "Stuck" for Sheetal Gandhi

Music for synchronized swimmers

* 2007 "Cottle's Liquescent Crystal" for FoCA (Friends of CalArts) Fundraising Event * 2008 "Seven Sins" for Ohio State University Synchronized Swim * 2008 "Nesbitt Solo" for Ohio State University Synchronized Swim Team * 2010 "Ascension" for Ohio State University Synchronized Swim Team * 2011 "Liquescent Crystal 2" for FoCA (Friends of CalArts) Fundraising Event * 2013 "From the Dark" solo routine

Film

* 2007 "Wind Runner" * 2007 "Elisabeth" * 2007 "Women" * 2007 "Unbridle" * 2008 "How it all Began" * 2008 "Vine" * 2009 "The Layabouts" * 2009 "Against the Dark Of Night" * 2010 "Imaginary" * 2016 "The President of Malawi" * 2016 "Last Man Standing" * 2016 "Parched" * 2020 "Fighting for Family" * 2021 "Cambodia Town Not for Sale"

References

External links

*
Bridge to EverywhereLos Angeles Philharmonic teaching artistsSanta Clarita Valley Youth OrchestraLos Angeles Electric 8 at LACMACalArts First FoCA Salon of the Season
by Kari Mozena, ''Los Angeles Magazine'', October 14, 2011 {{DEFAULTSORT:Skye, Derrick 1982 births 21st-century American composers 21st-century American conductors (music) 21st-century American male musicians 21st-century classical composers African-American classical composers American classical composers African-American conductors (music) African-American male classical composers American male conductors (music) American male classical composers Living people Musicians from Los Angeles 21st-century African-American musicians 20th-century African-American people