Rob Derke, a saxophonist and educator, composer, arranger/producer, conductor, and arranger, is well-known to a growing crowd for his extraordinary versatility. Rob Derke has been a prominent figure in many musical styles but has always incorporated his diverse experience to jazz saxophone. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He attended LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts in New York City. Later, he received his bachelor’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music, and his master’s from SUNY Purchase. His first teachers were Dave Schildkraut, formerly with Miles Davis and Stan Kenton, as well as Justin DiCioccio (a world-renowned jazz educator). Rob Derke began his career deep in jazz tradition. He has performed with jazz legends like Red Rodney and Clark Terry, Jon Faddis and Ray Vega. He has performed as a musician, conductor, and composer at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall, Town Hall and Alice Tully Halls, Radio City Music Hall, JVC Jazz Festivals, Radio City Music Hall, Radio City Music Hall and various clubs and radio broadcasts across the country. Rob Derke was an undergraduate at Manhattan School of Music and discovered new musical styles through his compositions and playing. He also became interested in European avant-garde and European classical music. Rob has also explored ethnic music traditions in his travels to over 20 countries. Carnegie Hall premiered his suite for strings, woodwinds, and percussion, “Khyal”, which was inspired by the Quwwali vocal traditions. Rob Derke has been featured on Billboard charts for several weeks for his recordings as a producer and studio composer for Grammy-nominated projects. Rob Derke is a highly-respected educator in New York City for more than a decade. He has been a leader in the development of jazz programs at several New York schools, from teaching woodwinds at the university level to leading large bands and large ensembles. Rob Derke is the Director of “Jazz at Town Hall”, a program that allows students to learn the art of Jazz on the stage with jazz greats. In addition to being an active presenter at conferences and clinics, he has written educational articles for various publications. Rob Derke endorses Fred Lebayle mouthpieces for the saxophone. from http://www.nyjazz.org
