Derrick Spiva

Derrick Spiva

Derrick Spiva (right) and Alex Shapiro (left) in 2005.
Background information
Birth name Derrick Spiva Jr
Born (1982-11-19) 19 November 1982
Origin Los Angeles
Genres classical, world
Occupation(s) Musician, composer, teacher, conductor
Instruments trombone, Ewe percussion
Website derrickspiva.com

Derrick Spiva (born Derrick Spiva Jr; 19 November 1982) is a musician, composer, teacher, and conductor based in the Los Angeles area who often integrates world music practices in his work with classical music communities. The Los Angeles Times has described Spiva's music as "something to savor" and "enormous fun to listen to."[1]

Spiva is a Teaching Artist for the Los Angeles Philharmonic[2] and assistant conductor of the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra.[3] Educated at University of California, Los Angeles and California Institute of the Arts, Spiva studied classical music as a student of Ian Krouse, Paul Chihara, David Rosenboom and Alex Shapiro, while also studying Persian music theory with Pirayeh Pourafar, Balkan music theory with Tzvetanka Varimezova, tala in Hindustani classical music with Swapan Chaudhuri and West African music and dance with Kobla Ladzekpo. Spiva's compositional works often incorporate world music elements into contemporary classical music contexts.

His works have been premiered by the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Electric 8,[4][5] Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra,[6] Lian Ensemble, UCLA Philharmonia,[7] Chapman University Wind Symphony,[8] Superdevoiche (Bulgarian Women's Choir), and Salastina Music Society,[9] amongst other groups. Rhythm and the embodiment of rhythm through movement is an important theme in Spiva's works; he has collaborated with choreographers such as Mariel McEwan, Sheetal Ghandi, Cynthia Ling Lee, and synchronized swimming champion and international coach Sue Baross Nesbitt.[10] He has been awarded a residency with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra (LACO) through New Music USA's "Music Alive" program for LACO's 2015–2016 season[11] and released the album Prisms, Cycles, Leaps with Orenda Records in 2015.[12]

Spiva has given talks, workshops, and pre-concert lectures about his musical practices at the Homeland Cultural Center, Skirball Cultural Center, Royce Hall (UCLA), Alex Theater, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and various other schools and institutions. He was asked to speak at the 2016 annual League of American Orchestras conference in Baltimore on the topic of how classical music orchestras can build stronger relationships with their diverse communities.[13]

Spiva is the son of Artra Howard-Brant and nephew of Mattina Howard, Sherri Howard and Denean Howard of the Howard Sisters, who won gold and silver medals in track and field at the 1984 (Los Angeles) and 1988 (Seoul) Olympic games. His father, Derrick Spiva Sr, is a lecturer at San Francisco State University in Africana Studies. He is married to ethnomusicologist Kim Nguyen Tran.

List of Works

Orchestra
Wind Ensemble
Choral
Small Ensemble
Duets and Trios
Music for Choreography
Music for Synchronized Swimmers
Film

References

  1. ↑ Times, Los Angeles. "Rhythmically complex world premiere leads off LACO's new season". latimes.com. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
  2. ↑ LA Phil (17 September 2012). "Teaching Artists". LA Phil. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  3. ↑ Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra. "Derrick Spiva". Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra. Retrieved 2012-11-26.
  4. ↑ 6 days 21 hours ago. "Sundays Live at LACMA". Los Angeles Electric 8. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  5. ↑ Los Angeles County Museum of Art (12 August 2012). "Los Angeles Electric 8". Los Angeles County Museum of Artl. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  6. ↑ kMozart 1260 AM. "Press Release 4/1/2011". kMozart 1260 AM. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  7. ↑ "UCLA Department of Music Events". UCLA Department of Music. 1 October 2003. Retrieved 2012-11-27.
  8. ↑ "Chapman University Wind Symphony | Chapman University College of Performing Arts | Chapman Conservatory of Music | PERFORMING ARTS". SparkOC. 18 April 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-16.
  9. ↑ "Calendar » Salastina Music Society: 6 Los Angeles Composers ~ June 10, 2016 at 8pm". www.sequenza21.com. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
  10. ↑ "CalArts First FoCA Salon Of The Season - Los Angeles Magazine". 2011-10-14. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
  11. ↑ Alan Kozinn (22 October 2014). "Pairing Composers and Orchestras, With an Eye on Younger Audiences". The New York Times. Retrieved 2014-10-30.
  12. ↑ "Artists". Orenda Records. Retrieved 2016-08-25.
  13. ↑ "Leveraging Creative Connections « 2016 Conference, June 9–11 2016". americanorchestras.org. Retrieved 2016-08-25.

External links

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