About Me

Derrick is an 18-year-old pianist, composer, and music producer with 14 years of classical piano training. He began lessons at the age of four and quickly discovered an exceptional ability to improvise fluently across genres, which sparked his lifelong passion for performance and creation.

While his roots are in classical piano, Derrick’s musical experience extends far beyond traditional repertoire. He currently plays piano in his school’s honors jazz ensemble and was selected as a TAS IASAS piano delegate in both his junior and senior year, representing the highest level of solo classical piano performance at his school and traveling to Bangkok, Thailand (junior year) and Manila, Philippines (senior year) for the convention. He was also chosen as one of three pianists out of 250 member schools for the 2025 AMIS Honors Jazz Festival and traveled to Hong Kong in October to perform.

In the past year alone, Derrick has performed in over two dozen concerts and gigs, including charity events, school productions, and student bands. He was featured as a keyboardist during his school’s 75th anniversary celebration, performing alongside the orchestra conducted by renowned composer Kirt Mosier. He played first keyboard in the pit band for his school’s 10th-grade musical and is set to perform again in the upcoming production of Legally Blonde.

In addition to performing, Derrick has spent the past five years producing music across a wide range of genres, including pop, trap, lo-fi, EDM, jazz, and orchestral. As a seasoned keyboardist and synth enthusiast, he applies his deep understanding of sound design to his compositions, blending classical techniques with a modern and distinct style.

Most recently, Derrick composed the score for one of his school’s most ambitious film projects, a documentary set to compete in the All American High School Film Festival, which aims to raise awareness about the impacts of pollution on the natural environment in Palau. He is currently preparing to release a full album featuring the documentary’s soundtrack.

With a strong foundation in both performance and digital production, Derrick remains an avid learner, continually striving to expand his skills and seeking every opportunity to fuel his musical curiosity.