Derek earned a degree from Cornell University in China and Asian-Pacific Studies and authored a thesis on the history of classical music in the cultural relationship between the United States and China. After graduating from Cornell, he was accepted into the prestigious woodwind quintet fellowship program at the University of Maryland, studying with Gregory Miller and Phil Munds while completing a Master of Music in Horn Performance.

He is a core member and composer of Classically Dope, an innovative fusion group of classical music and hip-hop featuring Konshens theMC. Derek’s compositions have been performed at The Anthem alongside the NSO, the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage, and recently live on the airwaves at Texas Public Radio in San Antonio. He received a commission from the University of Maryland Wind Orchestra to compose a brand new work for rapper and wind orchestra titled “Dreams”, which premiered in 2022.

From 2019-2022 he was Director of Artistic Planning for the National Youth Orchestra of China, organizing and leading international tours in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and China.  Derek is formerly the Festival Director of the Prague Summer Nights: Young Artists Music Festival.

Derek is currently Director of Music at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Great Falls, VA where he leads worship from the piano/organ bench and directs the choir. He is the Artistic Director and Conductor of the Great Falls Philharmonic and Principal Conductor of the Greenbelt Community Orchestra. He lives in Greenbelt, MD with his wife Katie and his cats Lily and Liza.