Born in Kilmarnock Scotland in 1963, Derek started playing the flute at the age of fourteen. Having lessons from teachers, Sheila Laing and Stewart Forbes.
After leaving school Derek studied flute with Shelia Cochrane at Napier University Edinburgh. During his time at Napier, Derek played principal flute for the university orchestra and wind ensemble. After leaving University Derek played professionally for many years in and around the west coast of Scotland.
In 2001 Derek began studies with Sheena Gordon (Scottish Chamber Orchestra) , and has attended and played in masterclasses with such players as Wissam Boustany, David Nicolson, Lorna McGhee, Paul Edmond-Davis, Peter Lloyd, Ian Clarke and Sir James Galway.
Derek participated in the "Scottish International Flute Summer School" from 2003-2008, and was a participant at the "Stratford upon Avon International Flute Festival" with Elena Duran in 2003.
From 2002 Derek played principal piccolo with the "Dunbartonshire Concert Band" and toured with them to Malta and Austria. He played first flute with "Glasgow Wind Band" one of the UK's premier symphonic wind orchestras, until re-locating to Australia in November 2008.
He was the founder member and played with "Zonda Flutes" an award winning professional flute trio based in Glasgow.
Since moving to Australia in 2008 Derek has quickly established himself as a popular music educator and teacher. Derek teaches in Sydney schools and is also in demand as a flute tutor for band and orchestral Camps. He teaches private students from his studio Lane Cove.
Derek is an Associate of Trinity College of Music London and has a Diploma in Music from the Open University.
He is a member of the "British Flute Society" , "The National Flute Association of America"and is membership secretary of "The Flute Society of NSW".
He plays flute & piccolo in the "Marrickville Symphony Orchestra" and in 2009 performed Eddie McGuire's "Celtic Knotwork" as part of a presentation on celtic music at the "Australian Flute Festival".
Derek is soon to appear in the new Baz Luhrmann movie "The Great Gatsby".
Derek plays on a silver Muramatsu GX flute with a Lafin platinum clad silver head joint.
