Biography
Conductor
Derrick Skye
Derrick Skye is a Los Angeles-based composer, conductor, and musician known for his transcultural approach to music, integrating diverse musical practices from cultures around the world into his work. An American with Ghanaian, Nigerian, British, and Irish ancestry, Mr. Skye first had aspirations to become an astronaut, but eventually found that his musical practice offered the same sense of awe that he felt looking at the stars. He makes his San Francisco Symphony debut with this performance.
Mr. Skye has had commissions and performances by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, London Philharmonic, Netherlands Philharmonic, National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and Kennedy Center. Highlights of his oeuvre include Prisms, Cycles, Leaps for orchestra, which weaves together Western classical music, music of the Balkans, music of the Volta Region of Ghana, and Hindustani classical music; American Mirror for string quartet, which reflects on the coming together of cultures in American society consisting of generations and descendants of refugees, immigrants, and enslaved people; and god of the gaps, a piece for solo violin, loop pedal, and electronics.
In addition to his work as a composer, Mr. Skye is dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding through music. His mission is to create music that transcends cultural boundaries and bridges diverse communities. He is artistic director and conductor of Bridge to Everywhere, board member of American Composers Forum, member of the New Music USA program council, and former artistic advisor for Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Through his work, Mr. Skye demonstrates his belief in the power of music to inspire, connect, and foster dialogue across cultures.
Mr. Skye has had commissions and performances by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, London Philharmonic, Netherlands Philharmonic, National Arts Centre Orchestra of Canada, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and Kennedy Center. Highlights of his oeuvre include Prisms, Cycles, Leaps for orchestra, which weaves together Western classical music, music of the Balkans, music of the Volta Region of Ghana, and Hindustani classical music; American Mirror for string quartet, which reflects on the coming together of cultures in American society consisting of generations and descendants of refugees, immigrants, and enslaved people; and god of the gaps, a piece for solo violin, loop pedal, and electronics.
In addition to his work as a composer, Mr. Skye is dedicated to promoting cross-cultural understanding through music. His mission is to create music that transcends cultural boundaries and bridges diverse communities. He is artistic director and conductor of Bridge to Everywhere, board member of American Composers Forum, member of the New Music USA program council, and former artistic advisor for Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Through his work, Mr. Skye demonstrates his belief in the power of music to inspire, connect, and foster dialogue across cultures.
