Composer

Conductor

Hailed by The Strad for playing with “tremendous heart and beauty,” the Ivalas Quartet has been changing the face of classical music since its inception in 2017 with a mission to enrich the classical music world by spotlighting past and present BIPOC composers alongside the standard repertory. Among the many composers whose works they have championed are Eleanor Alberga, Gabriela Lena Frank, Osvaldo Golijov, Jessie Montgomery, Angélica Negrón, Iván Enrique Rodríguez, Carlos Simon, Alvin Singleton, and George Walker. They premiered Derrick Skye’s Deliverance through a commission from Caramoor in 2024.

Ivalas Quartet

High School of Fashion Industries

Experience the groundbreaking artistry of Sphinx Virtuosi, an extension of Detroit’s own globally renowned Sphinx Organization, committed to amplifying Black and Latino voices in classical music. The self-conducted chamber orchestra delivers a pioneering evening titled American Form/s: a musical tapestry spotlighting the many sounds of American classical music and composers of color. Vibrant, varied, and storied, take a journey through classically framed infusions of soul, bluegrass, jazz, blues, and elements of rag.

EPSG:4326

Sphinx Virtuosi

Rialto Theater

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

Chicago Symphony Orchestra

Peabody Auditorium

Wharton Center for Performing Arts

Edmonds Center For the Arts

Goshen College Music Center

Hayward Area Recreation and Park District

New World Center

 Big Bend Community College

Skidmore College

University of Tampa

Mechanics Hall

Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason makes her solo debut with the orchestra in a night of depth and diversity, under the baton of Kevin John Edusei.

Chineke! Orchestra: Harmony and Heritage

Southbank Centre

Pianist Isata Kanneh-Mason makes her solo debut with the orchestra in a night of depth and diversity, under the baton of Kevin John Edusei.

This concert is not just a gathering of musical talent but also a celebration of the familial bonds within the Chineke! Orchestra.

The concert opens with the UK premiere of the dynamic sounds of Derrick Skye's Prisms, Cycles, Leaps.

Elbphilharmonie: Harmony and Heritage

Elbphilharmonie Hamburg

With additional support from a Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation ArtsCONNECT grant, the Canady Chamber Series proudly welcomes Sphinx Virtuosi to the Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre stage for an evening of unparalleled musicianship and human connection.

Canady Chamber Series: Sphinx Virtuosi

West Virginia University

American Form/s is a musical tapestry depicting the many sounds of American classical music. Vibrant, varied, storied, and new, the self-conducted string orchestra Sphinx Virtuosi takes audiences on a journey through classically-framed infusions of soul, bluegrass, jazz, blues, and elements of rag. Works range from reimaginings of Joplin’s joyous landscapes to the complex rhythms of Curtis Stewart and brilliant influences of immigrant composers like Teresa Carreño. Experience the intricate harmonies and world influences of Derrick Skye’s writing, as well as modern interpretations of soul-stirring spirituals and more in this program carefully and collaboratively curated to celebrate the richness of the American musical landscape.

Sphinx Virtuosi Britton-René Collins, percussion

Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts

The 19th century was an incredible period of folk influence on classical music masters. Brahms, Mendelssohn and Ravel transformed their fascination with local traditions into unrivaled masterpieces. Concertmaster Alyssa Park and dancers of Pacific Festival Ballet enchant as featured soloists.

Brahms, Mendelssohn & Ravel

Rancho Campana Performing Arts Center

Kavli Theatre Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza

LACO presents music that unifies us during times of dissonance with Bacewicz’s Overture and Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 9. Meanwhile, Derrick Skye’s multicultural exploration, Prisms, Cycles, Leaps engages in an endless pursuit of connection in order to deconstruct musical and cultural divides.

Horizons

Alex Theatre

University of California, Los Angeles

HOW CAN WE DISMANTLE THE BARRIERS BETWEEN US? LACO presents music that unifies us during times of dissonance with the premiere of Derrick Skye’s multicultural exploration, To Be A Horizon, which engages in an endless pursuit of connection in order to deconstruct musical and cultural divides. Beethoven’s transitional Symphony No. 4 provides a contrast, celebrating Beethoven’s legacy of breaking musical boundaries.

Laco Horizons: Beethoven Skye

Join us for an unforgettable musical experience as the Ivalas Quartet graces the stage at Caramoor on February 25, 2024, at 2:00 pm. This remarkable ensemble, serving as the 2022-23 Ernst Stiefel String Quartet-in-Residence, will present their final concert in this residency, a performance that was eagerly anticipated and has been postponed from June 2023. The concert will take place in the intimate setting of the Chamber Music Room, offering a perfect acoustic environment to appreciate the quartet's artistry.

The Ivalas Quartet is renowned for their commitment to showcasing diverse voices in classical music, and this concert is no exception. Their program features works by Black and indigenous composers, including a world premiere by the exceptionally talented Derrick Skye, whose compositions reflect his Ghanaian, Nigerian, Native American, and British/Irish heritage. Skye's new work, "Deliverance," promises to be a transcultural exploration blending Persian classical melodic systems with rhythmic elements from West and North African music, offering a unique and enriching musical experience.

The quartet, composed of Reuben Kebede and Tiani Butts on violins, Marcus Stevenson on viola, and Pedro Sánchez on cello, will also perform pieces by Jessie Montgomery, Carlos Simon, and Eleanor Alberga, creating a program that celebrates the richness and diversity of classical music. Each piece has been carefully selected to align with the Ivalas Quartet's mission to disrupt and enhance the classical music world by amplifying voices less known and sometimes unheard.

This concert is not just a performance but a statement of the Ivalas Quartet's dedication to representation, diversity, and the power of music to unite and inspire. It is an invitation to explore the sounds of music from cultures and communities that echo our own and those that may be new to us, all within the beautiful setting of Caramoor.

Tickets are available for purchase now. Don't miss this opportunity to support and enjoy the transformative power of music as brought to life by the Ivalas Quartet.

The Rosen House at Caramoor

Salastina’s contribution to the statewide California Festival of contemporary classical music is in partnership with Leela Dance Collective, a Hindustani Kathak dance company. Encounters With Beauty is a world-premiere piece of choreography set to music by LA-based composer Derrick Skye and Dr. Ashwini Bhide Deshpande, a renowned Hindustani classical vocalist. Together, Leela Dance and Salastina weave musical traditions from around the world into multi-layered, distinctive, synergistic, cross-cultural expression unlike anything you've seen before. Wine reception, replete with Indian munchies, to follow.

Salastina x Leela Dance Collective: Encounters with Beauty

Santa Monica College Performing Arts Center

Enjoy some of the highlights of the 2023 festival that will dazzle, excite, and warm your heart in this program that amalgamates all the ideas around our places that inspire theme, including regional music, beautiful places, large open spaces, and the entire nation of America with its rich cultural tapestry in American Mirrors.

Places That Inspire: Large Spaces, Area, Regions of the World

Charles Washington Hall

This concert is a continuation of the enlightening concert discussion from 2022 with Dr. H Rosi Song, exploring the 20th century catalan composer, Gaspar Cassadó. We offer a juxtaposition of Cassadó’s music paired with Derrick Skye’s “American Mirrors” which draws on a rich tapestry of colors and expression of America. 

Lost in Plain Sight: Cassadó and His Lost Iberian Legacy

Robert C. Byrd Center for Congressional History and Education

BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Principal Conductor Ryan Bancroft present an all-American Prom with works by John Adams, Copland and Derrick Skye.

Prom 21: Adams, Copland and Skye

Royal Albert Hall

The Los Angeles Times heralded Derrick Skye's music as "something to savor...enormous fun to listen to”. In his sparkling new cantata, Skye surveys our troubled world and, setting his own original poetry, finds a humane and optimistic response. In dialogue, we present the first-ever Carnegie Hall performance of a luminous choral-orchestral work by Mozart's Viennese contemporary Marianna von Martines, alongside the 18-year-old Mozart's exuberant treatment of the same text. Rounding out the program: a toe-tapping triptych by Bartok, whom Skye has named as a source of inspiration.

Neither Separated, Nor Undone by Derrick Skye

Carnegie Hall

**Event Description: Tchaikovsky & Skye FEB 2023 - Orchestra Santa Monica**

Join us for an enchanting evening of classical music as Orchestra Santa Monica presents "Tchaikovsky & Skye" on February 11, 2023. This captivating concert will take place at the First Presbyterian Church, located at 1220 2nd St., Santa Monica, from 7:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

Under the masterful direction of conductor Roger Kalia, the evening will feature a world premiere of Derrick Skye's "We Gather Suite." The program also includes Copland's "Simple Gifts" from Old American Songs, a selection of traditional spirituals, and Tchaikovsky's majestic Symphony No. 5. The renowned baritone Jubilant Sykes will grace the stage, adding his exceptional vocal talent to this unforgettable performance.

**Event Details:**
- **Date:** February 11, 2023
- **Time:** 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
- **Venue:** First Presbyterian Church, 1220 2nd St., Santa Monica, United States

Don't miss this opportunity to experience a night of extraordinary music. Add this event to your calendar and immerse yourself in the timeless beauty of classical compositions.

Tchaikovsky & Skye

First Presbyterian Church of Santa Monica

Join us for a complete performance of Derrick Skye’s As I Heard When I Was Young before we record it in the studio. Derrick will be there to share his inspiration for the piece — and his warm and charismatic personality.
As with all of our Happy Hours this season: enjoy music, mingling, mimosas, and munchies.

Happy Hour with Derrick Skye

The Doheny Mansion

The Assyrian Arts Institute presents a groundbreaking new operatic production with music by Derrick Skye & words by Diana Farrell. Ancient gods, epic battles, and timeless quests come to life through a soaring score, electrifying vocals, live orchestra, and Assyrian folk instruments. Experience the world?s first story as you’ve never heard it before: myth, music, and movement on an epic scale.

Composer, Conductor

Derrick Skye

Events

Upcoming events

28 - 29 Mar, 2026

Gilgamesh · Lyric Opera of Orange County

Past events

Nov 8, 2025

Ivalas Quartet · Peoples' Symphony Concerts

Feb 22 - Apr 5, 2025

Sphinx Virtuosi · Sphinx Organization

Future and recently performed repertoire

Conductor in Gilgamesh by Skye

Lyric Opera of Orange County

About

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