Cris Derksen facts for kids

Cris Derksen is a talented two-spirit Cree cellist from Northern Alberta, Canada. She has been nominated for a Juno Award, which is a big music award in Canada. Cris is famous for her special music style. She mixes classical music with traditional Indigenous music. People often describe her sound as "electronic cello" or a mix of classical and traditional styles.

Life and Education

Early Life and Training

Cris Derksen grew up on the North Tallcree reserve in Northern Alberta, Canada. She has both Cree and Mennonite family roots. From a young age, Cris trained in classical music. She went to the Victoria School for the Performing Arts in Edmonton, Canada.

University Studies

Cris continued her music education at the University of British Columbia. There, she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance. This means she studied how to play the cello at a high level. While at the university, she was the main cellist for the UBC Symphony Orchestra.

Career Highlights

Early Career and International Performances

In 2009, Cris Derksen worked as a curator at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. This means she helped organize and plan events there. She has traveled all over the world to perform her music. Some of the countries she has visited include Germany, France, Spain, Norway, and the United States. She has also performed with many different artists and groups. These include the Beat Nation Live Collective, Kanye West, Kinnie Starr, and traditional pow wow groups.

Orchestral Powwow Project

In 2015, Cris released her album called Orchestral Powwow Project. She worked with an independent record label called Tribal Spirit Powwow to create it. For this album, Cris used Tribal Spirit's collection of powwow music. She blended these traditional sounds into her own unique project. In the same year, Cris received guidance from the famous Canadian musician Buffy Sainte-Marie. This was part of a special grant from the Ontario Arts Council.

Recent Projects and Collaborations

In 2017, Cris Derksen performed at a big meeting for the Canada Council of the Arts. She performed with her group, the Cris Derksen Trio. This trio includes drummer Jesse Baird and dancer Nimkii Osawamick.

In 2019, the Art Gallery of Ontario asked Cris to create new music for a choir. This music was inspired by an art exhibition about Rubens. Also in 2019, Cris composed a choral work called Maada’ookii Songlines. This piece featured 200 singers and was part of the Luminato Festival. Cris also took part in a performance piece called Ikummagialiit in 2019. This was for the National Gallery of Canada's exhibition on Indigenous art.

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

Musical Releases

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

Composer Credits

Cris Derksen has also composed music for many different projects. This means she wrote the music for them.

• 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)
• Treading Water, documentary, Wookey Films (2014)
• The Pass System (film) (2015)
• Taken, TV series Introduction (2016)
• Re-Quickening, Kaha:wi Dance Company (2016)
• Rise, Vice Series (2016)
• "Kiinalik: These Sharp Tools" with Evalyn Parry (2017)
• Kamloopa (2019)
• Maada’ookii Songlines (2019)
• Rebellion, commissioned by Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra.
• The Well (2025)

Awards and Recognition

Cris Derksen has received many awards and nominations for her music.

• With Evalyn Parry for "Kiinalik: These Sharp Tools", Outstanding Sound Design/Composition, General Theatre Division, Dora Mavour Moore award (2018)
• Indigenous Music Awards Nominee (2017)
• Juno Award Nominee, Instrumental Album of the Year (2016)
• 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)

See also

• Aboriginal Canadian personalities