LA Chamber Orchestra to Premiere CalArts Alumnus Derrick Spiva Jr.’s “From Here a Path”

Derrick Spiva Jr. | Photo courtesy of Hannah Arista

In the closing of the LA Chamber Orchestra’s 50th season, CalArts alumnus Derrick Spiva Jr.’s (MFA Music 08) “From Here a Path” will premiere in the culmination this weekend May 19th at the Alex Theater and May 20th at UCLA’s Royce Hall.

Derrick Spiva Jr. is a Los Angeles based musician and composer that integrates music from different cultures around the world, an essential part of his musical practice.

Spiva studied music at University of California, Los Angeles and California Institute of the Arts focusing on the musical styles of Classical, West African, Persian, Balkan, and Tala.

The Los Angeles Times has called Derrick’s work as “something to savor” and “enormous fun to listen to”.

A former composer residency winner of LACO’s New Music U.S.A. “Music Alive” program of 2015 – 2016, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra has previously performed his work “Prisms”, “Cycles”, and “Leaps.”

He currently serves as Artistic Director of the new music collective and arts organization Bridge to Everywhere, a Los Angeles based chamber orchestra of 20 musicians that celebrates cultural diversity and connecting cultures and people for a better world.

Derrick Spiva Jr. served as a teacher for the Community Arts Partnership (CAP) educating local youth in music theory, and conductor of The Santa Clarita Valley Youth Orchestra.

Derrick Spiva Jr. says:

“From Here A Path” draws inspiration from Husago, a West African piece from Ghana’s Ewe people that includes drumming, dancing and singing, kaval flute playing from Eastern Europe and elements of Hindustani classical music. The title references the momentum and resistance one gathers to reach a point.