Cris Derksen

Derksen is from North Tallcree reserve in Northern Alberta, Canada, and has both Cree and Mennonite heritage. She attended a performing Victoria School for the Performing Arts in Edmonton, Canada and was trained in classical music from an early age. She received a Bachelor of Music in Cello Performance at the University of British Columbia. During her time at UBC she held the position of Principal Cellist with the UBC Symphony Orchestra.[2]

In 2009 Derksen was the curator in residence at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. She has traveled and performed internationally in numerous countries including: Germany, France, Spain, Norway, Czech Republic, Mexico, Sweden, and the United States. She has performed with the Beat Nation Live Collective, Kanye West, Kinnie Starr, Tanya Tagaq, Rae Spoon, and traditional pow wow groups.[3]

In 2015 Derksen's Orchestral Powwow Project album was produced in partnership with the independent record label Tribal Spirit Powwow.[4] During the making of this album Derksen utilized Tribal Spirit's library of powwow music as a resource and incorporated some of the traditional music found in this library in her project.[5] In the same year, Derkson was mentored by Canadian musician Buffy Sainte-Marie as part of an Ontario Arts Council grant.[2]

In 2017, Derksen performed at the Annual Public Meeting of the Canada Council of the Arts with the Cris Derksen Trio which includes drummer Jesse Baird and dancer Nimkii Osawamick.[6]

In 2019, the Art Gallery of Ontario commissioned Derksen to create a new choral work inspired by the Early Rubens exhibition at the Art Gallery of Ontario.[7] Also in 2019, Derkson composed Maada’ookii Songlines, a choral work featuring 200 singers as part of the Luminato Festival.[8] Alongside, Chistine Tootoo and Jamie Griffiths, Derksen was part of a 2019 performance piece called Ikummagialiit, that was commissioned by the National Gallery of Canada as part of the Àbadakone exhibition on Indigenous art.[9]

In 2020, Derksen performed as part of CBC Gem's Queer Pride Inside special.[10]

• The Cusp (2010)
• The Collapse (May 2013)
• Orchestral Powwow Project (2015)[11]

• People of a Feather (feature film, 2011)
• TransMigration (Kahawi Dance, 2012)
• 8th Fire soundtrack (CBC Television mini-series, 2012)
• Sound design for two plays for Native Earth Theatre's Weesageechak Festival (2014)[2]
• Treading Water, documentary, Wookey Films (2014)[12]
• The Pass System (film) (2015)[13]
• Taken, TV series Introduction (2016)
• Re-Quickening, Kaha:wi Dance Company (2016)[14]
• Rise, Vice Series (2016)
• "Kiinalik: These Sharp Tools" with Evalyn Parry (2017)[15]
• Kamloopa (2019)
• Maada’ookii Songlines (2019)[8]
• Rebellion, commissioned by Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra.[16]

• With Evalyn Parry for "Kiinalik: These Sharp Tools", Outstanding Sound Design/Composition, General Theatre Division, Dora Mavour Moore award (2018)[17]
• Indigenous Music Awards Nominee (2017)
• Juno Award Nominee, Instrumental Album of the Year (2016)[4]
• First Tracks funding (2012)
• Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award nominee for best new artist and best instrumental album (2011)
• Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Instrumental Album of the Year (2011)
• Western Canadian Music Award Nominee (2011)
• Aboriginal Peoples Television Network rising star (2009)

• Aboriginal Canadian personalities