Honoring Hope, Heritage, and New Beginnings

Throughout its history the band has continued to interact with contemporary culture by featuring outstanding guest soloists in their festivals or concerts. In just the past few years these have included world-class groups or soloists such as The King’s Singers, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Singers, Michael W. Smith, Philip Cobb, Maestro Bramwell Tovey, Chris Martin, Canadian Brass, Cory Band and the Black Dyke Band.

The band continues to be motivated by their love of Christ. That motivation they link to their calling to lift high the Christian Gospel. Their music making serves as an effective arm of the SA’s compassionate ministry while the band also keeps true to the highest purpose of sacred music—giving praise and glory to God.

Beyond the confines of the SA, the NYSB’s interactions with culture stand as testimony to its consistent engagement and Christian witness. Throughout its history the band has embraced new methods to face the ever-changing nature of society. Whether setting the pace in the early days of radio and TV or continuing to use electronic media to enhance their ministry through outstanding recordings, the NYSB participates at the forefront of the interaction between the sacred and the secular.

The NYSB ranks among the most widely traveled groups in band history. They have toured the United Kingdom more than ten times, toured Europe, and Scandinavia on multiple occasions, traveled several times to the Far East, Australia, and New Zealand, been across the border into Canada on more than 20 occasions, and performed coast to coast in the Western Hemisphere.

Derek has had the privilege of studying at two of the finest music conservatories in the world, the Juilliard School in New York City and the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where he had the opportunity to study the trumpet with Mark Gould, Frank Kaderabek and David Bilger. During this time, as an orchestral musician, he performed under such conductors as Charles Dutoit, Otto-Werner Mueller, Christoph Eschenbach, Mstislav Rostropovich, Wolfgang Sawallisch, Yuri Temirkanov, and Sir Simon Rattle. He also had the opportunity to perform with the New Jersey Symphony and the New York Philharmonic. In addition to his education as a musician, Derek holds a master’s degree from Seton Hall University in Strategic Leadership and Communication.

To the glory of God, the New York Staff Band has enjoyed some success in terms of creativity, output, and impact. Since Derek has taken the helm, the band has commissioned over 40 new pieces of music, recorded eight albums, and created numerous video recording projects that have brought the ministry of the New York Staff Band to people worldwide. The band has also collaborated with the Canadian Brass, Boston Brass, Mnozil Brass, Philip Cobb, David Childs, Chris Martin, Allen Vizzutti, Wycliff Gordon, and the Cory Band.

As a Salvation Army musician, Derek has been blessed to minister in music worldwide with many fine Army bands. As a soloist, he has worked with the Amsterdam Staff Band, Canadian Staff Band, and the New York Staff Band and is featured on several recordings with the NYSB.

Derek and his wife, Lorena, attend the Spring Valley Salvation Army Corps in New York with their daughters, Isobel and Caroline. He is the Corps Sergeant Major and Worship Leader, playing in the band and helping with the Y.P. Band. His daily prayer is that his life and work will always glorify God, who he loves and serves.