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The American composer and performer (tenor/counter-tenor singer, guitarist), and music instructor, Derek Lawrence Keller, obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Music Composition and Guitar Performance (1989-1994) as well as his Master of Music degree in Music Theory and Composition from Hodgson School of Music - University of Georgia (1994-1996); and his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Music Composition from University of California in San Diego (UCSD), where he studied under the direction of Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Roger Reynolds (1998-2004). He has also studied composition with Anthony Davis, Chaya Czernowin, Rand Steiger, George Crumb, Jean-Luc Hervé, Brian Ferneyhough, David Lang, and Charles Wuorinen.
Born from his uncommon versatility as an award wining composer and performer (guitar/voice), Derek Keller's music explores the myriad of possibilities in the coexistence, inter-mingling and hybridity between contemporary concert music, jazz and rock. Keller has received commissions from John Zorn (Tzadik), Loadbang, SACRA/PFOFANA, the Empyrean Ensemble (UC Davis), Fondation Royaumont, Redfish-BlueFish, NOISE, Colin McAllister (gutiar), JitaZax, City Water, Cantoria (Truman State University), Groundworks Dance Theater, Cappella Gloriana, Athens Master Chorale, MACRO Analysis Creative Research Organization, Mark Menzies (violin) and Morris Palter (percussion). His music has been performed in the Americas, Europe, and Australia, and at notable festivals such as The World Saxophone Congress, June in Buffalo, SoundOn (La Jolla, California), and the Festival of New American Music (CSUS).
In addition to being a composer, Derek Keller is an accomplished guitarist. He has won and placed in numerous state, regional and national competitions and performed in notable master classes, such as those with Christopher Parkening. With his own ensemble, he has performed at music festivals, including the Festival of New American Music (2013, 12, 07), In The Flow (2006, 08, 11), and the 2007 SRING festival of New Music at the University of California, San Diego.
Of late Derek Keller has been making regular use of his vocal talents. While completing his Ph.D. in Music Composition at UCSD, he tudied voice with Carol Plantamura. While in San Diego, he was a member of Cappella Gloriana, with which he performed in Europe, and for which he composed extensively. Currently he is a member of Resurrexit and is the Tenor Choral Scholar at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral (Sacramento, California). Some of his recent performances include singing his own arrangements of Schubert, Dowland, and Gesualdo for guitar and voice with the McAllsiter Keller Duo, selections from Four Andalusian Love Songs for counter-tenor and piano by Sacramento area composer Kurt Erickson, and selections from Récitations for solo voice by George Aperghis.
Derek Keller served as a visiting Assistant Professor of music composition at Oberlin Conservatory of Music. Since 2006, he has worked as Instructor at Local Colleges and Universities in Sacramento, California Area: Instructor of Record at Cosumnes River College (since 2006); Instructor of Music at Los Rios Community College District in Sacramento, Teaching in Ear Training, Digital Audio Recording, Piano, and Music History (since September 2006); Online Instructor at National University in Sacramento, Teaching in Music History and World Music (since July 2009); Instructor (adjunct professor) of Music at William Jessup University in Rocklin, California, as Director of Theory and Composition, Teaching in Theory, Ear Training, Composition and Popular music (since September 2010). He currently curates the music series for St. Paul's Episcopal Church, focusing on highlighting original avant-garde and improvisational music.
Derek Keller’s music and performances are available on the Tzadik and Centaur labels. He currently lives in Sacramento, California. |
