Cris Derksen facts for kids

Cris Derksen is an amazing musician from Northern Alberta, Canada. She is a talented cellist who is also Cree and two-spirit. Cris is famous for her special way of mixing classical music with traditional Indigenous music. People often call her style "electronic cello" or a blend of classical and traditional sounds. She has even been nominated for a Juno Award!

About Cris Derksen

Cris Derksen grew up on the North Tallcree reserve in Northern Alberta, Canada. She has both Cree and Mennonite family roots.

Her Education

From a young age, Cris trained in classical music. She went to the Victoria School for the Performing Arts in Edmonton, Canada. Later, she earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Cello Performance from the University of British Columbia. While studying there, she was the main cellist for the UBC Symphony Orchestra.

Cris Derksen's Music Career

Cris Derksen has had a busy and exciting career in music.

Early Career and Travels

In 2009, Cris was a special guest curator at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre. She has traveled all over the world to perform. Her music has taken her to countries like Germany, France, Spain, Norway, Czech Republic, Mexico, Sweden, and the United States.

She has performed with many different artists and groups. These include the Beat Nation Live Collective, famous rapper Kanye West, and talented musicians like Kinnie Starr, Tanya Tagaq, and Rae Spoon. She has also played with traditional pow wow groups.

Special Projects

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 huge collection of powwow music. She blended these traditional sounds into her own unique project. That same year, Cris was lucky enough to be mentored by the legendary Canadian musician Buffy Sainte-Marie. This mentorship was part of a grant from the Ontario Arts Council.

In 2017, Cris 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.

New Works and Collaborations

In 2019, the Art Gallery of Ontario asked Cris to create a new piece of 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 amazing piece featured 200 singers and was part of the Luminato Festival.

Cris also worked with Christine Tootoo and Jamie Griffiths on a performance piece called Ikummagialiit in 2019. This piece was created for the National Gallery of Canada as part of an exhibition on Indigenous art called Àbadakone. In 2020, Cris performed as part of CBC Gem's Queer Pride Inside special.

Musical Albums

Here are some of the albums Cris Derksen has released:

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

Music for Films and Shows

Cris Derksen has also composed music for many films, TV shows, and dance performances:

• 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.

Awards and Recognitions

Cris Derksen has received many awards and nominations for her incredible talent:

• 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